Former Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho has taken another fresh swipe at his former club this time about their ball boys on the manner of handling the balls when it is out and needed back into the field or to the player.
This comes days after a Liverpool ball boy assisted them to get a late win that came from a quickly taken corner by Ale-Arnold where they ball boy near was very fast to issue him with the ball after it went out even before their rivals, Barcelona could settle for the corner take.
Liverpool used their ball boys to full effect on Tuesday night as a quick Trent Alexander-Arnold corner set up Divock Origi for the winner against Barcelona.
https://twitter.com/TeddyMunene/status/1125059170645020673
Sunday Mirror Sport reported in January 2017 that Mourinho had axed United’s ball boys because they were not up to standard.
The Portuguese drafted in players from United’s Under-16 team, after the previous ball boys and girls were provided by the Manchester United Foundation.And Mourinho has again hailed Liverpool’s secret weapon and believes it showed just how important they can be.
“You want a quick throw in, the ball boys need to know you want a quick throw in. The ball must arrive fast. I had a club where the club never understood how important the ball boys are,” he told RT.
Even if you are winning, that speed is important. The goal kicks, the tempo of the game, the ball boys, in a good structure, can also play a part.
“People don’t know that a real football club, every detail is very, very important. In this game, the kid, very intelligent, very bright. I don’t know if he’s an academy player or not, but the kid knew what he was going to do.”
Mourinho went on to single Alexander-Arnold out for praise after Liverpool reached the Champions League final.
What a moment from this scouser!Pure genius!
Also the ball boy should get huge praise and a VIP ticket to the final. pic.twitter.com/boGfbPlDpm— Marley (@colinbarry80) May 8, 2019
“Then Alexander-Arnold, he read the situation fantastically well. Young kid, Champions League semi-final, tired, 80 minutes of football,” he added.
“He saw everything. I always say, the good players are the ones that are on the pitch and everything is clear, they see everything. He saw that.”