Mourinho Reflects on Amorim’s Departure and His Own United Tenure

Jose Mourinho was approached by Portuguese media for his insights on Ruben Amorim’s dismissal, given that he is a fellow countryman and a former manager of Manchester United. However, the ex-Chelsea manager chose to maintain discretion, asserting that only Amorim could fully assess the reasons behind his departure.

He stated, “What transpired with Ruben is an issue that only he can dissect. I trust he and his team will address it. Whether he chooses to share his perspective publicly is beyond my knowledge.”

When questioned about the potential negative impact of Amorim’s sacking on the prospects of other Portuguese managers, Mourinho replied, “I do not see why it would affect them, but each coach is responsible for their own circumstances. Personally, I do not perceive it that way.”

Mourinho also took a moment to reflect on his own exit from Manchester United, a period during which he led the club to victory in the Europa League in 2017, and secured a second-place finish in the Premier League.

“I am well aware of my journey at Manchester United, including the reasons for my departure,” he remarked. “However, as is my practice, I prefer to close the door behind me when I leave a club and refrain from making external comments. When one door closes, another one opens. That is how it unfolded for me. The history remains, the statistics are recorded, and the three medals are home. That is the essence of it.”

Since then, Mourinho has gone on to manage Tottenham, Roma, Fenerbahce, and is currently at Benfica.

In previous statements, Mourinho asserted that he played a pivotal role in steering Manchester United out of a period of crisis. He elaborated, “The turning point was when both Sir Alex and David Gill departed. David Moyes took over, and while I was not there, I narrate the story better in my Netflix documentary. Upon my arrival, the club was still grappling with that crisis. We secured trophies and finished in second place. However, despite these successes, I did not achieve the stability and continuity I sought.”

He continued, “Today, under the new ownership, considering what transpired with Ruben and the club’s worst-ever Premier League season, it is noteworthy that there is still trust to persist and allow coaches to implement their ideas. This indicates significant changes within the club. I believe we can all agree that he is a coach with immense potential and character. Given stability, he possesses the capacity to excel at Manchester United.”

United is reportedly contemplating the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as interim manager until the season concludes. Solskjaer previously expressed his love for the role, stating, “It was a privilege to manage Manchester United, though it differs from my experience as a player. As a player, I focused on my duties; as a manager, I represented everyone. I considered the supporters, players, and the entire Manchester United environment.”

He added, “Yet, the pressure associated with this role is a privilege, as I had the opportunity to navigate it in my own manner, supported by a great staff and a positive atmosphere around the club. Ultimately, enjoying the work and training sessions is essential, but results are paramount, and unfortunately, we experienced a protracted period of poor performance, which is unacceptable at a club like Manchester United, leading to the managerial change.”