Mourinho criticizes Man Utd players he rejected ‘six years ago’ still at club now
The 61-year-old’s time at the club was soured by high-profile fallouts with players. The failure to secure Virgil van Dijk, who chose to join Liverpool, was a critical setback for the club. In an interview with the Telegraph, the Portuguese boss suggested that the presence of certain players he had not wanted several years ago may have contributed to the club’s current struggles.
Mourinho expressed his belief that these players do not represent the best professional profile for a club of a certain dimension, but he stated that he had done his job at Manchester United and hoped for the team’s success. Currently without a job after leaving Roma earlier this season, Mourinho also criticized former Manchester United executive Ed Woodward. He implied that the current Ajax coach, Erik ten Hag, had benefitted from a better support structure than the one he had experienced at Manchester United.
During his tenure as manager, Mourinho led United to a second-place finish in his second season, a significant achievement at the time. The team’s current fans may aspire to such a position as they are currently seventh in the league standings. Mourinho has not retired from football and has not ruled out a return to coaching.
Some Chelsea fans have even suggested a potential return for him to Stamford Bridge, amidst dissatisfaction with the current manager, Mauricio Pochettino.
