With uncertainty regarding the future of Erik ten Hag, José Mourinho is keen on a return.
Following his departure from AS Roma in January, José Mourinho has sat in wait, eyeing the various predicaments in European football’s elite clubs. During a season where Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has struggled to convince supporters of his suitability for the role, Mourinho is a name that has now reared its head.
The legendary Portuguese manager assumed control of United in 2016, lifting the UEFA Europa League and EFL Cup in the 2016-17 season. He led his United side into 144 fixtures and earned a 58.33% win ratio during his time at the club.
However, as has often been the case during the controversial 61-year-old manager’s career, a series of training-ground bust-ups and irrational media outbursts inevitably led to his departure in December 2018, with the majority of the fanbase in agreement that his time had offered some memorable moment – but the decision was correct.
Mind Games.
During an interview with the Telegraph in April, Mourinho claimed he did not receive the same trust as Ten Hag in the transfer market while at Old Trafford. In the build-up to yesterday evening’s capitulation at Selhurst Park, the Dutch tactician responded and suggested that the two-time Champions League-winning manager was the only chief – post-Sir Alex Ferguson – to be given his desired targets.
Following his side’s capitulation at the hands of the Eagles – a game which saw a dismal 4-0 defeat, speculation has intensified to the expected levels, with leading names now in the hat to replace the 54-year-old at the club – if and when he should depart.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News this morning, Mourinho would ‘walk’ to Manchester if asked to lead the Reds again – but club officials are not keen on any such arrangement.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has had a lot to say previously.
With Sir Jim Ratcliffe steering his INEOS powerhouse towards a new dawn in Manchester, assumptions immediately arose regarding his preference for first-team manager. Speaking with the Telegraph in 2018, the British billionaire did not hold back when referencing Mourinho’s work at Old Trafford.
“It’s not getting any better [at United]. It’s gone from bad to catastrophic. Talk about a glass half empty – and then you look at Mourinho – he’s so down, he destroyed Luke Shaw last season.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe discussing Manchester United form during an interview with the Telegraph | 2018.
It remains unclear whether Ten Hag will stay with the club after this summer, but it seems unlikely United will turn to Mourinho as a solution to the undeniable issues. With three league fixtures remaining and one eye on a second-successive FA Cup showpiece to come, United currently sits in eighth position and faces the prospect of finishing outside the top seven for the first time in 34 years.
Would you like to see ‘The Special One’ return to Manchester, or is that a ship that has sailed? Let us know in the comments below.
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