INTER MILAN manager Jose Mourinho has tried to stir the pot ahead of his team’s Champions League return leg against Manchester United on Wednesday by saying he could take over as manager at Old Trafford when Alex Ferguson finally decides to retire.
Mourinho’s team head to Old Trafford this week looking to progress to the quarter-finals following a goalless first leg in the San Siro a fortnight ago.
The Portuguese guided Porto to a two-legged victory over United at the same stage in 2004, when a 1-1 draw in Manchester was enough to see his side through.
Mourinho also believes the race for the English Premier League title – which United lead by seven points with a match in hand – would be tighter if he was still managing in England.
“If you want me to rule out ever being Manchester United manager I can’t,” he said. “Special clubs need special managers so in theory it could work, but nobody knows what the future is in football.
“The England national team wanted me as coach and that is the biggest job in England, so I am sure when Sir Alex retires they will look at the best managers in the world and I certainly fall into the category.
“Yes, Manchester United are the best team in England but you have to ask how good has the Premier League been since I left? Manchester United have won it with ease since I have gone because no manager has put a team together that can rival them.
“But my teams always rival Manchester United and Sir Alex knows that. They are a great team but if I was at a top club in England I think the title race might have been a lot closer this year.”
Mourinho also had some disparaging words for the teams trailing in United’s wake, adding he would be “embarrassed” to be in their current position.
“Chelsea have had no stability, Arsenal are nowhere and Liverpool threatened but I don’t think anybody really thought they were ever going to win it,” he said.
“I beat Manchester United with Chelsea and Porto. Now I am ready to beat them with Inter.”
Meanwhile, Ferguson is not surprised by Mourinho’s comments. “In the build-up to a match against Jose, I have to expect everything from him,” he said. “But we are preparing in the same way as after the 0-0 in the Nou Camp.
“We are used to Jose. I’m not a little lad from the Govan alleys who finds himself on Fifth Avenue in New York. I’m not shocked by anything any more. Mourinho has a magnetic power over the media, everyone wants him because he goes from the amusing to the spirited to the offensive. He’s a great media tactician.”
Ferguson is expecting Inter to defend: “I’ll tell you that at Old Trafford Inter will play for penalties. There is always that Italian mentality. Even with Argentinians and other foreigners, that remains the idea. They will look to suffocate the game for 120 minutes of goalless football.”
Meanwhile, United and Chelsea were kept apart in yesterday’s draw for the English FA Cup semi-finals. Chelsea will face either Arsenal or Hull, who have yet to meet, while United take on Everton, who beat Middlesbrough 2-1 yesterday.
