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Jose Mourinho: Man Utd boss delivers VERDICT on Newcastle's Rafa Benitez amid sack worry
JOSE MOURINHO insists Manchester United must improve - but understands the pressure is building of Rafa Benitez too.
Manchester United play Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Both managers are in desperate need of points, with United languishing in mid-table and way off the title pace, while Newcastle sit 18th in the league.
Express Sport understands Mourinho is facing the sack unless he reverses United’s fortunes, while Benitez is at odds with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley.
Mourinho and Benitez are age-old rivals, having famously clashed when they were respectively managing Chelsea and Liverpool in the mid-2000s.
And Mourinho concedes Saturday’s tie is no gimme for United.
“We know that to improve our position we need to win these three points but we know that our opponent for different reasons also need the points,” Mourinho said in a tense press conference today.
“(Benitez is a) very very very good coach, (with) a team that is always very well organised.
“Especially against the teams of the first part of the table where their manager is very bright on his analysis of the opponent’s qualities and to try to stop them.”
Our opponent for different reasons also need the points
Newcastle are yet to win in the league this season and could end the weekend bottom of the table if Cardiff and Huddersfield pick up points.
But Mourinho is wary of a Toon bite back this weekend.
“The results they had against the top teams didn’t get them points yet this season, but gave them very, very close results and very difficult matches for the opposition,” he said.
“So we expect a difficult match.”
Manchester United have drawn three of their last four games, losing the other.
A win on Saturday would relieve the pressure on the manager, who could head into the international break with his future in their air.
And Mourinho admits recent results have not been good enough.
“Only one defeat at home all season, only one defeat in the last seven matches but not victories at home,” he said.
“In the past three (home) matches, three draws.
“Not the feeling of the defeat but not the happiness of the victory.
“So it is important for us to try and win this match on Saturday.”