Mourinho: Every team needs a player like Grealish!

James Shearman

Updated: 1 Sept 2021 19:58 BST
4 min read

Jose Mourinho may have pushed to sign Jack Grealish if he was still at Manchester United because "a team always needs a player like him".

Article continues under the video

The creative midfielder has been linked with a move to Manchester City recently, but for a long time Man Utd seemed to be leading the race for the playmaker.

Indeed, a move to United might have come to fruition had 'The Special One' stayed at Old Trafford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men had shown interest in Grealish last summer but a move for Jadon Sancho has put their need for an attack-minded player to rest.

The newly appointed Roma boss is clearly a fan of the the creative midfielder and would like to see him start for England in their European Championship semi-final clash with Denmark.

“Everybody knows I am very, very Grealish… but I know he’s not going to play [against Denmark],” Mourinho told Talksport.

He never hides, he creates unbalanced situations for the opposition, he is very, very brave, he breaks the routines of the game

- Jose Mourinho

“I like the guy because he never hides, he creates unbalanced situations for the opposition, he is very, very brave, he breaks the routines of the game and I think when a team is so solid like England, especially with this dynamic of Rice and Phillips in front of the back-four, I believe a team always needs a player like Grealish.

“But it doesn’t look like he’s an option to start with Gareth Southgate, and Gareth is right, especially if England win the Euros – Gareth is right and we are wrong.

“I would always play Grealish, but I believe it’s not going to be Grealish, I believe it’s going to be Saka.''

England's chances at Euro 2020?

Mourinho expects England to reach the European Championship final, but admits beating Denmark will be a challenge - unlike Ukraine in their quarter-final match.

Kasper Hjulmand's side have already overcome major setbacks in this tournament, most notably the freak incident involving star player Christian Eriksen.

''Denmark are not Ukraine,'' he added. ''Before the Ukraine game, I said it was no problem if Gareth decides to rest one of the lads in danger of suspension, no problem in Gareth decides to rest Harry Maguire because he comes from a big injury, I was completely convinced it was going to be an easy match.

The technique 👌@JackGrealish @BenChilwell
🔗
@PhilFoden pic.twitter.com/z3bnjInNBn
— England (@England) July 5, 2021

“But this one, I keep singing: ‘It’s coming home’, but I will also say: ‘Be careful, be careful’, because Denmark is a completely different game in terms of the level of opposition.

“It’s coming home, but it’s not going to be easy.”

The winner of the tie will face Italy, who beat Spain in the other semi-final, in Sunday's showcase event at Wembley.