Jose Mourinho believes Manchester United are a better team than their recent results suggest despite their struggles in both the Premier League and Europe.
The Fenerbahce head coach, who managed United between 2016 and 2018, will face his old side in the Europa League on Thursday evening.
Ahead of the game at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, Mourinho discussed United’s earlier draws against FC Twente and Porto, as well as their disappointing start in the Premier League, where they currently sit 12th.
“I’m not playing (mind games),” he said. “They have a better team than the results are showing. I study them as much as I can with my staff. There is work (to do) there and they will succeed sooner or later. Hopefully, sooner and hopefully one day I will return to the Premier League and they will be my opponents again.
“They haven’t won but they also haven’t lost (in the Europa League this season). To get a point in Porto is not easy for anybody. We also played against Twente. Of course, the world expected United to beat Twente, especially at Old Trafford. But it was a difficult game.
“What I will say is that the potential of the team is high. I think they are in a stable situation. The two biggest candidates to win the Europa League is easy (to pick). Manchester United and Tottenham. The Premier League is a different level of quality, intensity, pace, tactical culture. Everything.
“I think tomorrow we are going to play against one of the two strongest teams in the competition.”
Mourinho joked that he could be owed a Premier League medal if Manchester City are stripped of their 2017-18 title and United are awarded the trophy.
The 61-year-old humorously claimed that, should City face sanctions over their 115 financial charges, he would expect a bonus and a medal, as United finished second that season, 19 points behind City’s “Centurions.” City have denied the allegations.
Mourinho also backed under-pressure manager Erik ten Hag and praised United’s potential despite their recent struggles.
He said: “What should happen for sure is that they keep faith in the coach. They must support the coach. He is staying season after season. That stability means trust and they are giving him conditions to keep developing his job.
“It was different in relation to me. We won the Europa League and we finished second in the Premier League.
“I think that we still have a chance to win that league because if Manchester City are punished with points then maybe we will win that league and they will have to pay me the bonus and give me the medal.”
Mourinho, who has managed Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid, also spoke on his relationship with United since being sacked in December 2018.
“Honestly, I haven’t lost a minute (of sleep) thinking about it,” Mourinho said. “I wish the best to Manchester United since the moment I left. I left with a good feeling for the club, and the fans and I want the best for them.
“If things are not going well for them, it is not something that makes me happy. But at the same time, I have no time and it doesn’t make sense for me to be thinking about what happened or didn’t happen.”
The Athletic, meanwhile, recently reported that United’s new part-owner INEOS had continued its cost-cutting programme by ending a multi-million pound annual commitment to Sir Alex Ferguson, the most successful manager in the club’s history. Former United striker Eric Cantona called the decision “scandalous”.
Mourinho was asked if he was surprised at the decision to let the 82-year-old leave the club, as well as being asked about his friendship with him.
He added: “Our relationship was amazing. Incredible. When my Netflix documentary comes out you will know more about the reason why I have so much respect for him.
“I don’t know in depth the situation (about the ambassadorial role). But it doesn’t matter. Sir Alex has the most important thing. The love and respect of every Manchester United fan around the world and that is more important than his role or a few pounds that he could make that he doesn’t need.”
(Top photo: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
