Bob Bradley hopes Swansea can add to Jose Mourinho's problems
Swansea boss Bob Bradley hopes to pile the pressure on "gracious" Jose Mourinho at the end of a troubled week for the Manchester United manager.
Mourinho will watch United's Premier League game at Swansea on Sunday in the stands after being given a one-game touchline ban.
It has been a desperate week for Mourinho, who accepted two Football Association misconduct charges - one of which was using abusive/and or insulting words towards a match official in United's goalless home draw against Burnley last weekend - and then criticised his players following their timid 2-1 Europa League defeat to Fenerbahce on Thursday.
But Bradley says he saw a different side of Mourinho when he was the manager of the United States national team between 2006 and 2011 and during their relationship since.
"I've talked to him on the phone and traded some messages with him in the last year
We have some common friends," Bradley said.
"He's been in the United States a lot with teams in pre-season and in many of those situations I've had a chance to see his teams train.
"He's always been gracious in those moments."
Bradley also recalled how an act of Mourinho kindness on one of those pre-season tours struck a special chord with him.
"When he was at Inter Milan and Real Madrid my eldest daughter Kerry was handling some of the administrative details for those teams," Bradley said.
"I was standing quietly at training there one day when he comes straight across the field.
"He started talking about the US and how we had played well in the World Cup
I remember him saying sometimes you need a bit of luck and that you should be proud.
"Then he hesitated and goes: 'And your daughter is a great girl'
She had done a bit of work around the team and he knew, from one father to another, that I would appreciate that.
"And I did
It shows you what kind of guy he is."
Bradley has yet to taste victory at the Liberty Stadium, drawing one and losing two of this three games in charge as Swansea have slipped into the relegation zone.
Bradley made five changes after his first game at Arsenal and then another three for Monday night's 3-1 defeat at Stoke.
"No, I don't know my best XI," said Bradley
"It's something I'm trying to figure out every day."
Manchester United's Marcos Rojo still has Premier League glory in his sights and hopes Sunday's trip can kick-start their title bid.
United have failed to win their last four Premier League matches, leaving them seven points off the top four after just 10 games and leading scrutiny to mount on a side whose flashes of brilliance have been overshadowed by poor displays like Thursday's in Turkey.
"Going to the Liberty Stadium hasn't gone too well for us in the last few seasons," the Argentina defender said
"It's a difficult place to go to.
"They are a strong team, but we need to go there with the intention of getting the three points.
"We need to keep getting the three points and victories to maintain our challenge to finish at the top of the league.
"Obviously, with the international break, you're looking at quite a long period of time before you get to the next league match.
"It can happen where you lose tempo, or perhaps the rhythm isn't quite there.
"So, before the international break, you of course always want to go out there with a solid victory before you go to join up with the international team."
United will be without the suspended Ander Herrera in Wales, while fellow midfielder Paul Pogba is a doubt following a heavy tackle on Thursday and right-back Antonio Valencia is definitely out after undergoing surgery on an arm.
Source : PA
Source: PA