Jose Mourinho shuts down Erik ten Hag question in fresh interview
Jose Mourinho refused to bite on a question about Manchester United’s new hire, when quizzed in a press conference today.
Mourinho is preparing his Roma team for the Europa Conference League semi-finals against Leicester City, after beating Bodo/Glimt in the quarters.
Mourinho spent around 20 minutes answering questions, before a final query was put to him, ‘What do you think of ten Hag at Manchester United?’
He responded, expertly shutting down the question, “I’m not talking about other clubs, just mine”, quoted by TMW. And on that note, the press conference ended.
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Perhaps at another time, Mourinho would have taken a shot at United, who have won nothing since sacking him as manager in December 2018.
But he would rather not expend the energy right now, with a semi-final to play for against Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City.
History will be kinder to Mourinho’s United spell than successor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who won nothing, despite all the positivity surrounding his time in charge.
Mourinho delivered two trophies, and the trigger for his spell in charge faltering came from the board’s failure to invest.
His determination to win the Conference League should be noted; as United may end up in the competition next season.
Erik ten Hag has his work cut out to turn United around, with the Red Devils requiring a major rebuild, off the pitch as well as on it.
Interim boss Ralf Rangick told The Guardian last week that United as a club, need ‘open heart surgery’ to get back to the top. Mourinho no doubt felt the same way in 2018, but nobody was prepared to listen.
One of Mourinho’s predecessors, Sir Alex Ferguson, did respond to a question over Ten Hag today, wishing him luck and urging him to take control.
