Jose Mourinho argues he didn’t receive enough backing from the Manchester United board during his tenure at the club.
The former United manager was sacked in December and replaced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. It had gone to the point of no return for the Portuguese coach, who wasn’t backed in the previous transfer market and he had already fallen out with a number of players.
Mourinho uses Jurgen Klopp’s three trophyless years at Liverpool as an example of how managers should be treated, and he will choose his next destination as long as there are assurances of the transfer policy.
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The Portuguese was on punditry duty for beIN SPORTS on Wednesday during the Champions League encounter between Barcelona and Liverpool, with the hosts delightfully winning 3-0.
“I would love to go to a club and be in conditions to do what Jurgen and Pep did,” Mourinho said, as quoted by Goal. “If you look at the [Liverpool] team that started the game, how many of them were there when Jurgen arrived? A couple. And when Pep was not happy with the full-backs he had and in the [next] summer bought four full-backs that he liked.”
He seeks more assurances before quitting his sabbatical.
“Probably this season they have a big chance to do it – the first time that they win a trophy. In my next job I will not be starting a conversation without knowing exactly what the club wants and what the club has to give in terms of structure and the club objectives.”
Last summer was the final straw for Mourinho. He made it clear his United side was in dire need of a top quality centre-back, but Ed Woodward wasn’t in agreement with some of the manager’s targets and the Reds were left without a defensive signing.
The transfer market saw United come away with Fred, Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant. That doesn’t show the right mentality for a club that just finished runners-up to rivals Man City.
More should have been done to try bridge the gap with City and it’s no surprise to see Liverpool’s signings doing well. The Scousers strengthened in areas of need and they’ve pushed on like they would have hoped.
If United don’t wake up now, Solskjaer risks falling further behind.
