Former Manchester United player Phil Neville has backed the club’s boss Jose Mourinho to show his true colours of the fearful manager that he was, after their 1-0 win over local rivals Manchester City in the EFL Cup tie.
Mourinho fielded a relatively strong Manchester United line-up and the team displayed their fighting spirit and quality.
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Neville believes that a few more wins would restore Mourinho’s daunting swagger on the touchline, something that has been lacking from the managers at the club since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
Hope to see the real Jose, says Neville
He further recalled the Mourinho of old at Chelsea and Real Madrid, and how he had seemingly taken to war against Barcelona during his days at Madrid, when their manager was none other than current Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola.
"You saw it with Real Madrid and Barcelona. How he went to war with Pep. You just hope now... do it again!” Neville said on Sky Sports.
“Sir Alex Ferguson did it all the time with managers who were competing against him. A couple more wins and I hope we'll see the real Jose.”
"I look back at previous managers of this club and they've never been afraid to say what they want, acting like they do. They are traditions you have to behold but United fans want to see the real Jose, that siege mentality that he had at Chelsea, 'us against the world' and bring it to Old Trafford," said the former Everton and United midfielder.
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Neville has called for Mourinho to bring back his combative presence at the helm of the club’s affairs citing that the fans want to see that type of manager heading the club.
So far, Mourinho seems to not be afraid to take bold decisions and impose his authority as is evident with the Wayne Rooney situation.
For now, the Portuguese manager seems to have turned around the downbeat mood after the club’s humiliating loss to his former club Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. A victory in the EFL Cup not only advances Manchester United to the quarterfinals of the tournament but also restores their pride after a derby loss to City earlier in the Premier League.
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