Jose Mourinho has reportedly written a six page letter to Manchester United, outlining his suitability for the job. The former Chelsea manager is acknowledged to have long coveted the Old Trafford hot-seat, currently occupied by a floundering Louis van Gaal, and is willing to adhere to the Red Devils’ ethos in order to secure the appointment.
A report in The Independent claims that Mourinho sent the six page letter to Old Trafford HQ, in which the Portuguese manager makes a strong pitch for the Manchester United managerial role. Mourinho also provided a detailed overview of the present state of the squad in the document, while also outlining the decisions he would take to improve the situation, were he to be appointed to the role.
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Given Manchester United’s 1-0 loss against Southampton at home last night, the pressure on Louis van Gaal has reached fever pitch. The Dutchman has a contract until 2017, but is reportedly unhappy with the scrutiny of the role and would like to retire a year early. Mourinho would like to avoid displeasing Van Gaal by making a public overture for the role, having worked with the Dutchman in his spell at Barcelona from 1997 – 2000.
Jorge Mendes denies the existence of the letter
The Manchester United board have previously considered appointing Jose Mourinho to the Old Trafford role, especially after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, but there is a considerable faction that does not want to appoint Mourinho, given his brash management style.
Mourinho’s defensive approach and his lack of giving youngsters a proper run in the first team are also points against Mourinho, but the Portuguese apparently promised an expansive style of football based around the promotion of young players in his letter, hoping that his vow to not court controversy were he to be appointed to the role works in his favour.
However, Mourinho’s agent, Jorge Mendes has poured cold water on the widespread reports about Mourinho’s letter, calling it ‘ridiculous, and absolute nonsense’ in a release from his agency, Gestifute.
Here’s the full text of the statement :
Concerning some news published today in British press about José Mourinho, Jorge Mendes clarifies the following:
“It doesn’t cross anyone’s mind that a manager such José Mourinho is writing letters to clubs, asking for a job.
It’s ridiculous and absolutely nonsense.”
Louis van Gaal’s job has come under intense scrutiny in the past few weeks, and the rumours about Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho being in line for his job are sure to worsen his increasingly adverse situation.
