JOSE: FRANK WORST BOSS EPL HAS SEEN
JOSE MOURINHO has branded Frank de Boer the “worst manager in Premier League history” after the Dutchman’s dig over his use of Marcus Rashford.
The former Crystal Palace gaffer last weekend claimed “it is a pity” the 20-year-old plays under Mourinho as his demand for results would mean limited game time.
But the Manchester United manager was in no mood to take criticism off a counterpart who lasted just 77 days in the top flight.
With no points or goals in his four Premier League games in charge, Mourinho even said Rashford – who hit a double in United’s 2-1 win over Liverpool – would only “lose” under de Boer.
The ex-Ajax, Barcelona and Rangers defender was given the boot by Palace last September, topping the list for shortest Premier League reign in terms of games.
Reds boss Mourinho, whose predecessor Louis van Gaal handed Rashford his debut in 2016, said: “I read something, some quote from the worst manager in the history of the Premier League – Frank de Boer.
“Seven matches, seven defeats, zero goals.
“What he was saying was it was not good for Marcus to have a coach like me because the most important thing for me is to win.
“But if Marcus was coached by Frank he would lose because he lost every game. I try to give the best to the kid.
“I have to be honest and give the credit to the people of the academy who were responsible for his formation and to Mr van Gaal who was responsible for his first season.
“But if you go to his numbers and see how many matches he played with me last season and this, I would say probably he’s in the top five players with most matches in the two seasons.”
Mourinho’s statistics may have been off – Palace lost their first seven league games without scoring but the final three came under his successor Roy Hodgson.
The sentiment was clear though – especially given his remark followed a question that didn’t mention de Boer, only whether the player would remain in the Reds starting 11 tonight.
Mourinho reckons “anything is possible” if United can overcome Sevilla and reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Portuguese declared he doesn’t believe his side are “candidates to win the competition” but added: “When you’re in the last 16 it looks really far but in the last eight you start smelling the semi-finals.”
Meanwhile, Michael Carrick confirmed he will retire at the end of the season after 12 years at United.
The 36-year-old, who underwent surgery earlier this term for an irregular heartbeat, has taken up a coaching role at the club.
And he signed off by insisting Scotland call-up Scott McTominay has the right mentality to flourish after adopting a similar role in United’s engine room.
Carrick said: “All the glitz and the glamour that can surround young players these days, he doesn’t seem too interested in, which is fantastic – especially at this stage of his career.”