Mourinho in hot water with FA
LONDON: Jose Mourinho was charged by the Football Association on Tuesday over comments he made after Manchester United’s victory against Newcastle and faces a potential touchline ban if found guilty.
The United manager spoke into a camera after his side came from behind to triumph 3-2 at Old Trafford, easing the immediate pressure on him after a string of poor results.
“Jose Mourinho has been charged following Manchester United’s game against Newcastle United on Oct 6, 2018,” said an FA spokesman.
“It is alleged that his language at the end of the fixture, as captured by the broadcast footage, was abusive and/or insulting and/ or improper. He has until 6pm on Oct 19, 2018 to respond to the charge.”
The match was played in a tense atmosphere, United having denied a report earlier in the day that Mourinho would be sacked that weekend regardless of the result.
United recovered from 2-0 down to complete a dramatic comeback with a lastgasp goal from Alexis Sanchez. The victory ended a run of four games without a win.
Footage shows Mourinho saying something, apparently in Portuguese, while at one point looking into a camera, as he headed towards the tunnel after the final whistle.
He also made a gesture with his right hand while speaking, pointing with his little finger.
The 55-year-old, who said after the match that he was the subject of a media “manhunt”, said when asked about the gesture: “It is a finger. Smaller than the others, but it is a finger.”
Meanwhile Paul Scholes says even Lionel Messi would struggle to shine in the current Manchester United team and that the struggling club are being laughed at by their rivals.
“United now feel like Liverpool from years ago, like we’re making all the same mistakes as they did,” Scholes told ESPN.
“We were watching Liverpool and City from afar and smirking as they changed managers and players every year, never getting anything right. It feels like we have turned into a Liverpool or a Man City.
“I feel like people at Liverpool and Man City are looking at us and laughing like we did at them many years ago.”
Mourinho has spent more than £350 million on players since arriving at Old Trafford in 2016. Despite that, he has clashed with the club’s hierarchy over recruitment.
“I don’t think there’s a lack of quality there,” said Scholes. “I do think they miss a couple of real class players that other top teams seem to have.
“It feels like every player who comes into the team struggles. I feel like we could sign Lionel Messi at the moment and he’d struggle in this team.
“I think [Mourinho] still is [a great manager], but you wonder why his side keep getting outplayed.”