Old Trafford gives Mourinho raucous welcome

MANCHESTER — Jose Mourinho enjoyed a raucous reception as he watched a charity match from the stands Sunday in his first appearance at Old Trafford since being named Manchester United manager. Just nine days after the official confirmation of Mourinho’s appointment, the 53-year-old was in Manchester to give his support to Unicef, which uses the Soccer Aid friendly to raise money for children in danger across the world. The former Chelsea boss originally agreed to manage an “England” team consisting of former internationals, musicians, actors and other celebrities, against a Rest of the World team coached by Leicester’s Claudio Ranieri and featuring a host of retired legends. But, following his move to United, Mourinho decided to save his first game on the home bench for the club’s clash with Everton in Wayne Rooney’s testimonial on August 3. Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce took care of the match-day management duties instead, while Mourinho watched from the directors box as England won 3-2. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be more involved tonight, but I’m so happy and involved at the beginning of my job at Manchester United that all the time I have right now is working time,” Mourinho wrote in the match program. “But I love the boys at Soccer Aid so much — the atmosphere and especially the cause — that I couldn’t be away on the day of the game.” Plenty of fans were waiting outside Old Trafford to greet Mourinho when he got off the England team bus and some in the stands held aloft signs and banners bearing his name. Mourinho, hired to replace Louis van Gaal on a three-year deal, was given a loud reception from supporters, some of whom snapped up scarfs emblazoned with the new United manager’s name and face, and it didn’t take long for the Portuguese to make himself at home. Pele was Unicef’s guest of honor and Mourinho posted a photo on his Instagram account of him and the Brazil legend as they shook hands in front of a Manchester United badge in the players’ tunnel. The caption to Mourinho’s photo read: “An honor to host Pele at my new house” and he also posted a picture of himself standing in the tunnel looking toward the pitch. Mourinho gave an interview to ITV before kick-off, but his microphone broke before he could get into full flow. “I’m very happy to be here, and especially alongside Ranieri, who won the Premier League, and Sam, who saved Sunderland from relegation,” Mourinho said. “It’s a shame I’ve really not had a chance to enjoy this season as much as they did.” Sunderland forward Jermain Defoe scored twice for an England side including Robbie Fowler and Jamie Carragher, as well as pop star Robbie Williams and One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson. Ronaldinho, Cafu, Jaap Stam and Edgar Davids starred for the Rest of the World, whose goals were scored by former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov. Mourinho will take charge of his first game as United boss when it faces Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai on July 22. ‘Ex-Chelsea doctor refuses payout’ Chelsea’s former doctor Eva Carneiro, who left after a public spat with team manager Jose Mourinho, rejected a 1.2 million pound ($1.7 million) settlement from the London club, British media reported, citing employment tribunal papers. Last August, Carneiro angered then-manager Mourinho by running onto the pitch with a physio to treat playmaker Eden Hazard in the closing stages of Chelsea’s first Premier League match of the season, a tense 2-2 draw. Mourinho, who was sacked in December, called Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn “impulsive and naive” because their treatment temporarily left Chelsea with nine men, with another already dismissed. The club removed Carneiro from first-team duties and they parted ways in September. She is claiming constructive dismissal against Chelsea and has filed a separate action against Mourinho for alleged victimisation and discrimination, according to British media. Mourinho will be questioned at the hearing for at least one day, the reports quoted Carneiro’s lawyer as saying. — Agencies