Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho targeting ‘two or three’ new players in the summer
After Sunday's EFL Cup victory, the Portuguese suggested that new additions to his side could help United make the ‘next push’ for greatness
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said he wants to add “two or three players” to his current squad at Old Trafford.
The 54-year-old, who has has been tasked with returning the 20-time English champions to the peak of Premier League football, clinched his first piece of silverware as manager after United were crowned EFL Cup champions at Wembley.
But Mourinho has already set his sights on winning more trophies and suggested that new additions to the side could help United make the ‘next push’ for greatness.
The Portuguese told Sky Sports after Sunday’s game: "I think with this group of players, the squad we have and the difficulties we are having during the season, I think we are more than fine.
"I think we will be ready in July to open the door for two or three good players to help us to improve our level.
"You reach a certain level of stability, you find your way to play, your philosophy and this is very important. We are stable in the way the team plays and we need one more push.
"The next push is the next transfer window. We didn't use it in the winter and we are obviously going to use it in the summer and trust the players we have.
"Like Mr Woodward was saying, we will keep a huge percentage of the players we have at this moment in the squad. We need the next push."
Speaking after the EFL Cup final, Mourinho also described it as a “relief” to win a first major trophy at United, and meet a career target, after his side beat Southampton 3-2 in a rip-roaring League Cup final.
In a forthright moment, the Portuguese revealed a hint of vulnerability as he admitted he put pressure on himself to win a trophy at every major club, and said this was a “tricky” final he had feared more than any other due to the fact his side were favourites.
“I’m very happy,” he said. “I’m very happy. I’m happy for the players, the fans. I try to put myself secondary, but the truth is it was important for me. I put pressure on myself. I try to win a major trophy at every club, so to win with Manchester United is a relief. The reality is we want more.
“I don’t want to look at it as a platform. It’s something that happened. It’s one more game we now want to delete from our minds. It’s over, it’s finished, it’s a sense of relief. It’s one of those finals I don’t like.
"I like the finals I play before - Chelsea-United, Chelsea-Liverpool, Chelsea-Arsenal, Chelsea-Tottenham - because you are not favourites. You are playing against another big team. You don’t have more responsibility on your shoulders. It’s power against power.
"This game is tricky. They are Southampton, they are a growing club, but they are not Man United… I was afraid of this final more than the other ones because, the other ones, you go face to face and know another giant is on the other side.”
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