Jose Mourinho will be doing his utmost to get one over on his former club on Thursday night after he was relieved of his duties by Manchester United chiefs in 2018.
Indeed, we’re approaching the six-year anniversary of when Mourinho’s tumultuous tenure came to an end, with a 3-1 defeat away to Liverpool being the final nail in the coffin.
It had turned sour long before the result, though. United were in the headlines every other day with new reports detailing rifts in the dressing room as the Portuguese boss slowly lost the backing of each player. By the end, it was evident all were disillusioned with the state of the club.
While most supporters would strongly oppose the prospect of Mourinho returning for a second stint, it is reportedly something he’s considered. Towards the end of last season, when Erik ten Hag had just overseen a 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace, it was claimed that the 61-year-old would ‘love’ to take the reins at Old Trafford again if the opportunity presented itself.
The two-time Champions League winner is a close friend of Red Devils co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, but reappointing him at the helm is not something key decision-makers have even considered.
Now, ahead of Mourinho’s Fenerbahce locking horns with United in the Europa League tomorrow evening, he was heavily pressed for comments in his pre-match press conference.
Everything Mourinho said about United in the pre-match conference
Per Manchester World, here’s everything United-related that was said by Mourinho this afternoon.
If you were Manchester United coach, what would you take caution about facing Fenerbahce?
“I’m not the coach of Manchester United. I don’t see any reason for Manchester United to be afraid of Fenerbahce. It is not an easy game for them. If they think it is easy, it will be the wrong approach. I think, unfortunately for us, they will come with maximum strength. I don’t think they will make rotation ahead of West Ham. They will come full strength – that is what I would do.”
You know Manchester United very well. Do you think they have changed since you left?
“Honestly, I didn’t lose one minute thinking about it. I wish the best to Manchester United since the moment I left. I left with a good feeling to the club, to the fans. I want the best for them. If things are not going amazingly well for them, it is not something that makes me happy. I have no time, and doesn’t make sense for me to think about what happened or didn’t. What happened for sure, because it is very objective, is they kept faith in the coach. That means stability. It means trust. They are giving him conditions. That is the difference in relation to me. We won the Europa League, we finished second in the Premier League – I think we still have a chance to win that league because of Man City and the points (potential points deduction). (If they do) Maybe we win that league, then they have to pay me the bonus and give me the medal!”
United haven’t won in the Europa League this season. Is that a boost?
“They didn’t win, they didn’t lose. In this format, where everyone tries to figure out what we need, to get a point in Porto is not easy for anybody. We also played against Twente, of course, the world expects Manchester United to beat Twente at Old Trafford. The results Manchester United is having and the potential of the team – the potential of the team is high. I think the two draws in the Europa League don’t favour us. The new format will always allow the top team to qualify – no problem for the top team to lose three or four out of eight. They will make 12 points easily. They are in a stable position. The two candidates to win the Europa League are easy: Manchester United and Tottenham [Hotspur].”
Relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson after he lost his ambassadorial role?
“My relation to Sir Alex Ferguson was amazing, incredible. When my Netflix documentary comes out, you will know more about the reason why I have so much respect for him. The ambassadorial role, I really don’t know the situation. But it doesn’t matter why, it doesn’t matter what. Sir Alex Ferguson has the most important thing, the love and respect of every Manchester United fan all over the world. It is more important than the role and the money. It is the respect and the love for him.”
Manchester United have spent a lot this summer. What do you think the biggest barrier is to them?
“It is not for me to answer it. Honestly, I will always repeat the same thing. I want them to be successful. They are not playing against me in the Premier League. By wishing them the best, I wish the best to everyone there. I know only three or four of the players are from my time. Maybe you English guys think I am bluffing, playing mind games. They have a better team than the results are showing. I studied the maximum I could with my analysts. There is work there, and they will succeed sooner or later. Hopefully sooner, and hopefully, before I go back to the Premier League and they become my opponents. Tomorrow, there are no feelings.”
Sir Alex never beat a Jose side away from home. Does that give you hope?
“I don’t think so. I didn’t know, you’re telling me. There is no connection with the past. When I played Manchester United, I played with big teams. Porto, a few months later, became European Champions, Real Madrid was Real Madrid and Chelsea is Chelsea. We will try, but there is a gap. We are going for it.”
“We can not beat Manchester United 11 vs 11. We need 35,000 (fans behind us).”
