RATCLIFFE’S SPECIAL ONE A
Jose: I know him well...i have a good feeling that things will go in the right direction at United
JOSE MOURINHO believes Manchester United are finally back on the right path under Jim Ratcliffe.
The former United boss was sacked by the club but still looks back with pride on his two-and-a-half years in charge.
Mourinho praised ex-united executives Ed Woodward (right) and Richard Arnold as individuals, but said they both lacked football experience and the Old Trafford structure was broken.
But the Portuguese manager says he knows British billionaire Ratcliffe (above) on a personal level and is convinced he will turn things around.
Ratcliffe is already trying to shake things up and looks set to bring in Dan Ashworth from Newcastle as the Red Devils’ new sporting director.
Mourinho, talking to Rio Ferdinand’s VIBE with FIVE podcast, said: “I know Jim Ratcliffe well, I know him very, very well. We had good relations from years ago. I have a very good feeling.
“He’s also a sports man, he loves it – which is a very important thing – and comes with experience from other experiences from other sports, cycling.
“I have a good feeling that things can go in the right direction and I hope so. I really hope so. When I left the club, five years ago, for sure lots of things changed.
“I believe that Richard Arnold had to change something for better because I always felt he was a proper guy, a guy with a feeling for sport because I always felt that he was not a football guy, a rugby man but with a good understanding of what sport is. He’s a good man and I liked him very, very much, even when he was in a commercial role. For sure, they improve.”
Mourinho won the League Cup and Europa League during his time in charge at United, but famously also claimed that finishing second in the league was his greatest achievement.
Now, with hindsight, his achievements look far better considering what has followed since. The Special One says he still feels proud and honoured to have managed United and says the structure of the club did not make it easy to succeed, especially when the manager did not know who he was reporting to or working under.
Mourinho said: “I was so proud of going there and I was even prouder
probably when I
went back a couple of years later to Old Trafford as a Sky commentator when I felt the reaction of the crowd to myself. To have that reaction touched me. I loved my time there.
“To be a coach in the same club as Sir Alex – even if it was not immediately after – you have to feel it.
“You have to feel the pride and responsibility and I felt it. Historical club, legendary players, I felt proud to be there. But it was not easy. I don’t think the media helped me. It was not an intention of hurting but people did not understand the dimension of the job, potential difficulties and also that the coach was in a hybrid position.
“Before you had Sir Alex and David Gill, then you had changes and then you had not a very fluid structure.
“When people criticise the job Ed Woodward did, I don’t like it.
“Because, for me, he’s a good man, but was just a man that probably was not a fish in the water.
“Very intelligent, very polite and very correct, but probably not prepared for the sport side.
“And for a coach not to have a direct contact with the ownership and for a coach not to have a structure which shares the same principles was not easy with consequences at many levels.”
Mourinho also stands by that claim finishing behind
Manchester
City in 2018 was his greatest achievement.
He said it at the time because of behind-the-scenes issues and, within six months, he got fired.
But the 61-year-old joked that United could end up being champions for that season if their local rivals get punished for breaking financial rules.
City are being investigated by the Premier League but deny any wrongdoing.
Mourinho added: “Maybe there’s a chance we win that league because if Man City are caught up in FFP, breaking the rules, maybe they lose a few points and we win that title! Joking apart, we did the best we could do.”
And on the claim of finishing second, he added: “Of course I believe – and no one has done better. It was a hell of a job.”
I loved my time at United, to be a coach at the same club as Sir Alex you have to feel the pride, and I felt it
Ed Woodward was a good man but probably not prepared for a sports side... a fish out of water