Danny Rose: Our Manager Didn't Allow Us Take Alcohol

Tottenham Hotspurs left back now on loan at Newcastle United has revealed that, under Pochettino, Spurs didn’t even get a day off or have a couple of drinks to celebrate after their famous Champions League semi-final win over Ajax – whereas at Newcastle, the squad might get three days off after a win.

Excerpts from his sit-down with The Lockdown Tactics he said

"Even under Poch, he had a different culture to the British, "It wasn't that he didn't understand it. You know the British like to have a drink, it was just something that he couldn't get his head around.

"He wasn't willing to compromise on that, either. Even after we beat Ajax in the Champions League semi-final and it was obviously the biggest night of our careers. On the flight home we weren't allowed a drink.

"It was 'no you're training tomorrow, you're up at 9'. It's just one of those things. British managers do different things.

“Foreign managers, sometimes it'll take them time to adapt or for the players to adapt to them. It's something that is just one of those things in football.

"In the changing room and we went back out to the fans, for that hour I felt on top of the world. Then we got back on the plane and we were trying to have a drink and he wasn't having it. He was like 'No, we've got a game on Saturday'. The night was over.

"I do fully respect what he's done but at the same time with that Champions League semi-final we'd been together since we were 22 or 23, so for me that's all I'd known for the past five or six years, you'd play and then get one day off if you're lucky and that's it, you're grafting for the rest of the week.

(Credits: Getty Images)

"So now I'm at Newcastle, you're getting two or three days off a week if you win, so I'm thinking what's going on here then? It's a shock to the system.

"We'd only get one day off if we were lucky under Poch. Even in international breaks, he'd see the ones who would go away as having a holiday because training isn't as hard with your national team.

“So if you weren't in the national team you were getting beasted in training. You'd only get Saturday or Sunday off and then you'd get somewhere like Liverpool where they're getting seven to 10 days off.

"We've been programmed a certain way in the last five or six years and going to Newcastle it's different. I've missed playing for a British manager and I'm getting used to it again."

Danny Rose did fall out of favour under Pochettino nearing towards the end of the Argentine's tenure as Spurs manager and he was eventually loaned out by new manager Jose Mourinho, after the sack of Pochettino.

The Argentine spent five-and-a-half successful years in North London before being sacked last December.

Pochettino guided Spurs to four top-four finishes on different occasions, as well as a Champions League final and a League Cup final during his stay with the club.

Troy Deeney Kicks Against Restarting The Premier League

Watford captain Troy Deeney has declared himself to be against a quick restart of the Premier League.

Troy Deeney Is Against Restarting The Premier League (Picture: Getty Images)

From a post on Instagram, Deeney posted:

"I'm not even talking about football at the moment - I'm talking about my family's health,"

"If I feel that I'm not looking after my family, then I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to put my family at risk.

He went further by saying "What are they going to do, take money off me? I've been broke before so it doesn't bother me.

"They're talking about not playing in front of fans until 2021.

"So if it's not safe enough for fans to be inside a stadium why should it be safe for players to be in there?"

Troy Deeney, was part of a conference call this week with the PFA, Premier League chiefs, together with other club captains and the government on safety measures surrounding Project Restart as it concerns football and the Premier League.

UK's news outlets, Mirror Football also claims Deeney was a vocal presence at the Wednesday meeting, where he raised concerns over a lack of information and wanting further reassurances.

In related development, Premier League return plans were given a boost on Thursday when Britain's Culture and Sport secretary Oliver Dowden said the government was opening the door or paving the way for football to return next month.

Ryan Giggs: Sir Alex Ferguson Excluded Four Players From Getting The Hairdryer

            Ryan Giggs Sheds light On Players That Escape The Manager's Famous Hairdryer Treatment

Manchester United legend and former player and coach, Ryan Giggs has revealed the four who Sir Alex Ferguson did not give the hairdryer treatment to and always held back when it comes to scolding them at Manchester United while he was manager of the club.

Sir Alex was well know for dishing out fierce outbursts and scolding to his players during his incredible 26-year reign at United.

According to Giggs, he told beIN SPORTS: “There were three or four players that he (Sir Alex Ferguson) never had a go at.

“(Eric) Cantona was one – Bryan Robson, Roy Keane and Cristiano Ronaldo. They were all in their own ways matchwinners.

Bryan Robson And Sir Alex Ferguson Had A Mutual Understanding © Getty Images

Roy Keane And Sir Alex Ferguson ©Getty Images

“They did the stuff on the pitch, so he never felt (like he had to). Eric, there were some games where Eric didn’t do anything.

“He didn’t score, he wasn’t running around like a Tevez or a Wayne Rooney, he didn’t have any impact. But he knew sooner or later he would come good.

“We would be sat in the dressing room thinking ‘he’s got to have a go at him, he’s got to have a pop at him because he didn’t do anything today’.

“But the next week he’d scored the winner or he would produce a moment of magic, so he handled the big names really well as long as they were doing it on the pitch, he handled them in a different".

Former Manchester United's left back, Patrice Evra, reiterated similar thoughts last week when he share details of an incident that happened while the team was on a pre-season tour and Sir Alex was furious at the players.

Patrice Evra Takes Time Out To Sign Autographs For Queuing Fans

He said: “Once when we were in pre-season, and before we came on the bus, we were really tired, I'll be honest with you, and the players were like 'when no one signs, no one has to sign'. So we went straight to the bus, every one.”

“I look out the window and I see Sir Alex Ferguson signing each autograph. "I swear he must have signed for like 45 minutes. He was signing [for] everyone. I say ,'Guys, when the boss comes on the bus, we are done'.”

"He came on the bus he gave the hair wedryer. 'What the hell do you think you are?! Those people are paying your salary. Those people are coming to watch you. Now get down the f**k down and sign.' And we had to sign for each fan. But that’s the mentality", he concluded.

José Mourinho's Legacy At Manchester United

A year has passed since Jose Mourinho left Manchester United, but the legacy he left behind whilst still the manager of the club will always be a point of reference point in the club's history.

José Mourinho's Unveiling At Manchester United

Upon his appointment, there was a sense of renewed optimism, high hopes and expectations of a trophy laden seasons to come amongst fans of the club as it is usually the case with new appointments. 

Mourinho's antecedents as a relatively successful coach in all the previous club's he's been to added somewhat to the level of euphoria that surrounded his move to Manchester United. 

He was announced on the 27th of May 2016, as the new manager of the Red side of Manchester from the 2016/2017 season.

Manchester United Announced The Signing Of Jose Mourinho On Twitter

On announcing his appointment, Vice Chairman of the club, Ed Woodward had said: “José is quite simply the best manager in the game today. He has won trophies and inspired players in countries across Europe and, of course, he knows the Premier League very well, having won three titles here.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome him to Manchester United. His track record of success is ideal to take the club forward.”

The Legacy of Mourinho's appointment

Jose Mourinho did deliver this success as envisaged by Ed Woodward and as expected by a large section of the fan base and football followers in general aware of the developments at the club at the time. 

In Mourinho's first season in charge as manager, his impact on the team was largely felt in the club as Manchester United defeated Leicester City on August 2016, in the FA Community Shield to win the first trophy under the former Inter Milan and Real Madrid manager. 

Manchester United Players Celebrates After Defeating Leicester City In The Community Shield

The victory was much sweeter with Leicester City being the reigning Premier League champions.


In February of that same season, the Special One delivered a major silverware for the Red Devil's, becoming the first Manchester United manager to win a major trophy in a debut season after defeating Southampton 3-2 in extra time to lift the EFL Cup (League Cup) trophy at Wembley.

Manchester United Players Celebrating With The EFL Trophy

His first season in charge was capped with another major silverware, The UEFA Europa League trophy, a trophy which had been missing in the club's array of trophies in her rich history.

José Mourinho Added The Europa League Trophy To United's Cabinet

It became an added collection to United's well decorated trophy cabinet in May 2017 when Mourinho lead the team to defeat Ajax 2-0 in the final on 24 May 2017 at the Friends Arena in Solna, a suburb of Stockholm in Sweden. This became Mourinho's second major trophy during his first season as Manchester United manager.


As far as youth development goes, Scott McTominay stands out during Mourinho's managerial spell with the club. As a graduate of the club's youth academy, he made his senior debut for the club in May 2017, and was also promoted to the first team under the watch of the Portuguese gaffer. Scott McTominay has gone on to be an integral part of the first team ever since.

Scott McTominay Got His Manchester United First Team Breakthrough Under Mourinho

Although there is a school of thought that a lot more could have been done regarding youth development and promotion under him.

This is just about Jose Mourinho's legacy that preceded his appointment at Manchester United.



The Sack

In the build up to his sack in December 2018, his third season at the club, the team was stuck in a rut.


From being 19 points behind league leaders Liverpool to being 11 points adrift fourth place Chelsea almost midway through the season, which would earn a Champions League qualification place to United's haul of 26 points after the first 17 Premier League games, the worst tally at that stage of a season since 1990-91. The Red Devil's were closer in terms of points to the relegation zone than to leaders Liverpool. The picture wasn't a good one at all.


Amongst many other factors that led to his sack, was the fall-out with £89m record signing Paul Pogba and several other players in the team.

Jose Mourinho Had A Fall Out With Key Players In The Team 

Breakdown in relationship with Chief Executive Officer, Ed Woodward, in Mourinho's third season also contributed to his dismissal after missing out on key transfer targets in the summer. Mourinho had complained about the lack of new signings at Old Trafford, particularly in defence, during the summer.

During his time at United, he signed 11 players, all costing approximately £400m.


Mourinho was often criticised for his pragmatic approach and team set up which was more often than not in a conservatively way during his time at United despite the three trophies he won in his first season.


In essence, Mourinho sacrificed style for results, but when the victories ran dry, his tenure quickly collapsed.

Midway through the season of 2018/2019, Ole Gunner Solskjaer was subsequently appointed on an interim role which then metamorphosized into a permanent role after a fine run of 14 wins in 19 games.


This period gave a clear picture for the need of a cultural reboot and rebirth and the necessity of a proper footballing foundation if the club was to make any headway in getting back to summit of sustainable success on the pitch.


With the team playing in a more fluid and dynamic way. Goals were scored with ease and the team found it easy to break down opposing teams, winning games came with so much convenience in the process of doing it.



Legacy of Mourinho's Sack

The sacking of Jose Mourinho has left a legacy in the history of the club. His exit left a legacy of birthing a cultural reboot - 

Manchester United Officially Announced The Sack Of Jose Mourinho

As the club's CEO Ed Woodward puts it in an interview with United We Stand in October 2019, 

“Whatever manager we have has to buy into that philosophy and Ole is a walking, talking version of that. Let’s let this play out with Ole in terms of the culture reboot.” 

- the club's way of operation and approach, which includes:

Signing of players, attacking and free flowing style of play, promoting of youth with potentials from the academy and developing this potentials in them while integrating them with the first team, attitude and mentality of the players and having a manager that key into the culture and tradition of the club. 


Gary Neville encapsulates this cultural reboot which the club had decided to embark upon after Mourinho's sack in one of his podcasts for SkySports few weeks into Solskjaer's interim role as manager. 

He said: "Manchester United's philosophy is so deep and so meaningful, it's like Barcelona's and it's like Ajaxs. 

"At Manchester United you play fast, attacking football in an entertaining way. You bring young players through and give them belief. And you win.

"To be honest with you, the third one sometimes goes in cycles. The winning actually comes as a result of doing the first two right. The third one doesn't always happen. Sometimes you can go years without winning trophies. You can go years without winning things and picking up titles."


Mourinho's reign was characterized with the approach for instant success through radical and aggressive spending and signing of players without long-term strategy, forthright thinking and planning from both the coach and decision makers at the club. Likewise the manager before him, Louise Van Gaal.

Although this approach did bring success in a short time, but over time it proved to be unsustainable and an approach that didn't allign with the principles and football culture that Manchester United was known for before Sir Alex Ferguson retired. 



The future with Ole

Solskjaer Unveiled As Manchester United's Manager

It's been over a year since Ole Gunner Solskjaer became the manager of Manchester United, interim and permanently combined. Whether he will successfully be able to carry out this cultural reboot and rebuilding is left to be seen, but the positive signs are there for us to see if we look closely enough. 

Paul Ince Warning And Players For The Next Level

Former Manchester United and Liverpool player Paul Ince has sent a word of warning to Borussia Dortmund ace Jadon Sancho over a possible move to Manchester United under the stewardship of manager Ole Gunner Solskjaer.

Paul Ince who has coached Notts County and Blackpool in an interview with Paddy Power on Saturday has said the young England international have to consider whether signing for Manchester United will take him to the next level under the club's current manager.

Paul Ince told Paddy Power: “When it comes to transfers, it’s not just about the team, it’s about the manager.

"Let’s look at Raheem Sterling as an example, Pep Guardiola has turned him into a world class player through his coaching and guidance".

“Sometimes as a player, it’s about looking at a team’s manager and coaching staff and whether they’d take you to that next level. That’s a decision Sancho will need to make.

“We know that Pep is experienced in that area, we know he can improve a player. But can Ole Gunnar Solskajer? We don’t know that, whatsoever.

“We have no clue what he’s like at developing a player of that magnitude.

“He’s clearly trying to develop a young team, so that will help, but in terms of actually the man to man management and development of someone like Sancho, he’s a total unknown.

“We’ve not seen any evidence yet that he can take a player to the next level.

Speaking further, Paul Ince questions Solskjaer's antecedents from his previous managerial jobs and as well as since becoming the coach at Manchester United in regards to developing players and making them world beaters. He said: “Firstly, he’s not been at United long enough to know that, but also because in his previous jobs he’s not had players like that at his disposal.

“We’ve seen it with Pep, and we’ve seen it with Jurgen Klopp, and the best managers are the ones who can take a player to that new level and improve them.

“Ole’s not at that yet, it doesn’t mean he can’t do that, but we’ve not had that proof yet.

In his final remark, he concluded saying: “What I’m saying is, Sancho needs to consider all of those factors, culture, environment, team and ultimately the manager".

However, Ole Gunner Solskjaer in this current season has been credited for the progress and development of a handful of youngsters in the team and for the strides they've made in integrating with the first team and becoming better as a player.

Teenagers Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams are prime examples. Both academy graduates have had considerable game time this season and have been impressive.

Adding to this, key players in the team have had a sudden revivial in what seemed to be dwindling careers under the guidance of the current manager Olé Gunner Solskjaer.

Jadon Sancho, who is team mate's to Marcos Rashford at International level with the England National team is having his best season yet as a professional footballer under manager Ole Gunner Solskjaer before he was out due to injury.

Fred, another key player to the team who couldn't stake a claim in the middle of the park under previous manager Jose Mourinho has been a midfield enforcer during this campaign.

The same goes for Anthony Martial who has had a change of role in the team now spearheading the attack, with his goal tally improving compared to previous seasons.

Consequently, although Sancho is younger, Fred, Anthony Martial and Marcos Rashford are players that can be considered to be on almost, if not, the same football level with Jadon Sancho.

These players form part of the key personalities in the Manchester United team that are on track and on the verge of to taking their game and potential to the next level under Solskjaer. And that next level is classifying them as world class footballers. A line which can be drawn from Paul Ince comments on Jadon Sancho. 

Recent addition to the team Bruno Fernandes is one player also who is on the verge of taking his game to the next level. In fact, this is one of the reasons he signed for the club in January.

As much as Paul Ince has serious doubts over Sancho becoming a world class player if he joins Manchester United, however, Sancho joining the  Red Devils will only add to the list of players that are to take their games to the next level in the team vis-a-vis becoming world class players.

Whichever way this works out is left to be seen in seasons to come, but this also leaves an interesting and a fascinating spectacle for us to see.