Former Premier League striker Troy Deeney reflects on his first exchange with Jose Mourinho.
Deeney never has a shortage of things to say and Mourinho was once a media darling because of his quotes after becoming Chelsea manager.
The pair had their first-ever encounter on September 18, 2016 – when Mourinho’s Manchester United travelled to Vicarage Road in the Premier League.
United suffered a third consecutive defeat even though Marcus Rashford got on the scoresheet. Goals from Etienne Capoue, Odion Ighalo and Deeney meant the Reds were unable to force a comeback.
Deeney, 36, recalls how he ran into Mourinho in the corridors of Vicarage Road after the match.
“He’s [Mourinho] a legend,” Watford told talkSPORT.
“Because he’s straight-talking as well, whenever I’ve encountered him.
“My first encounter with Jose, we beat Man United at Vicarage Road. 3-1, we beat them. And I scored.
“I remember I went up to the family bit, I had some friends there and said hello.
“Then I was coming back down the stairs to go across to my family in my box. He was on the phone on the stairs, and I just stood waiting.
“I was like, ‘Oh cool’. Then we just laughed and joked, but he told me, you played well, good luck for the future. And I said the same.
“That was when United had Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney up front. It was proper.
“With Marcus [Rashford] on the left, [Marouane] Fellaini and [Paul] Pogba in the middle. It was a proper outfit.”
It’s clear from Deeney’s comments that Mourinho left an ever-lasting impression on the former Watford striker.
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