MAICON SO SURE ‘EXTRAORDINARY’ JOSE WILL PROVE DOUBTERSWRONG

JOSE MOURINHO has been labelled “extraordinary” and backed to prove his doubters wrong at Manchester United.

The Reds’ failure to narrow the gap on neighbours Manchester City and the style of football under their Portuguese boss has sparked doubts about whether he is really special any more.

But one place where he will always be thought of fondly is Inter Milan, where he won the league in both his seasons in charge.

Former Brazil right-back Maicon, who played under him at the San Siro, said: “Mourinho was extraordinary not only for me, but for all the players in our squad.

“He managed to motivate everyone to the maximum and he made every one of us very important.”

Mourinho secured three pieces of silverware in his first season in charge at Old Trafford – the Community Shield, Carabao Cup and Europa League. But the 19-point gap between runners up United and champions City last term and criticism of some of his methods raised doubts about the club’s chance of success with him as manager. Successive defeats against Brighton and Tottenham last month cranked up the pressure, though back-to-back wins at Burnley and Watford eased it.

Mourinho joined Inter in 2008 and by adding the Coppa Italia and Champions League to his 2010 title, they became the first Italian team to win the Treble.

By the time he left two years later, he had won all the domestic trophies available to a Serie A manager. Maicon added: “Mourinho is a great manager and I don’t have any doubt he will get through this difficult time.”