Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has given his opinion on Jose Mourinho managing the club and he feels his former rival will prevail. Mourinho officially took over as the Red Devils’ new boss on 1 July and has already started pre-season training apart from giving his first explosive press conference on his return to coaching and the Premier League.
Ferguson, who had managed the Old Trafford club for 26 years and won 25 major trophies, was asked about the Portuguese boss taking over at the club he retired and he felt it was wrong for Mourinho to return to Chelsea for a second spell back in 2013.
Mourinho had managed Chelsea between 2004 and 2007, winning two Premier League titles, and FA Cup and two League Cups in his first stint before disagreements with club owner Roman Abramovich led him to leave the club. Mourinho would go on to find success with Inter Milan and Real Madrid before returning to London for a second stint.
Although he won the Premier League in his second season back at Stamford Bridge, a disastrous 2015/16 season saw the defending champions slump to the bottom half of the table and the club flirted with the relegation zone before Mourinho was sacked in December. Guus Hiddink took over as interim manager, also his second stint, and steadied the ship to lead the club to a comparatively respectable 10th place finish.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Ferguson said: “I think Jose was wrong to go back to Chelsea, I really do. I think it’s always difficult when you go back somewhere for a second time.”
Mourinho was confirmed as the Manchester United manager at the end of May following the sacking of Louis van Gaal. Despite winning the FA Cup, the Dutch boss had failed to lead United to a top four finish, missing out on Champions League football in the process.
Manchester United is the right club for Mourinho: Ferguson
Speaking on what Mourinho could bring to the Red Devils, Ferguson believed the club had got the right man for the job.
“The ability, charisma and personality. His success is high; won a European Cup twice with different clubs, won a Europa [League title] with Porto, winning titles with all the teams he's managed.
“I mean, his record – you can't ignore that. And I think that Manchester United is the right kind of club for him.”
Mourinho has already got down to work in the transfer market, bringing in a host of new players to the club. Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have already been signed with Paul Pogba also a target as the club attempt to bring back one of their youth products.
The Portuguese boss also holds Ferguson in high regard, saying he would always be welcome at the training ground.
“He will always be welcome to the training ground,” Mourinho had said. “And we will have a lot of time to share our personal stuff.
“His opinion is important to me, the same way so many legends love this club and they are in the pundits industry and every opinion will be important to me. I will try and learn from them.”
