Over the last few weeks the rumor that Jose Mourinho will replace Louis Van Gaal as Manchester United manager has become increasingly prevalent. In fact, it’s now the worst kept secret in all of soccer that Mourinho will be in the Old Trafford hot-seat come the start of next season.
Now Bedy Moratti, the sister of Massimo Moratti, the former Inter Milan president who oversaw the club when Mourinho was in control at the Italian giants, has revealed that the Portuguese coach will definitely be in control at Manchester United at the start of next season.
Bedy Moratti, who now works as a director at Inter Milan and is the honorary president of the club’s supporters’ group Inter Club, made this inadvertent revelation when she was interviewed by calciomercato.com, via the Guardian , at a recent luncheon.
TRANSFER CENTRE: Jose Mourinho ‘going to Manchester’, Man City step up Gundogan interest: https://t.co/lXPiSNhieG pic.twitter.com/9pqTsFzsPF
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) February 20, 2016
When asked whether Inter Milan missed Jose Mourinho, who also happened to be in attendance at the event, Moratti insisted, “He’s missed as a person, but right now he’s happy, he’s going to Manchester.”
Jose Mourinho is regarded as the firm favorite to replace Louis Van Gaal at Manchester United. The Dutch manager has had a woeful sophomore year at Old Trafford. Having led Manchester United to a fourth place finish in his first season in charge, which was a stark improvement as it not only returned the Red Devils to the Champions League but was 3 places higher than where the club finished under David Moyes, there were expectations that United would challenge for the Premier League title.
That was especially the case since Louis Van Gaal had now spent around $300 million chopping and changing and revamping the Manchester United squad in order for it to match his “philosophy.” Instead, Manchester United have only produced languid and tedious soccer that has bored the club’s supporters so much that they have repeatedly protested his style.
For the first couple of months of the season they could at least console themselves with the fact that Manchester United were near the summit of the Premier League and in with a genuine chance of challenging for the title. But then, in November and December, Manchester United’s form massively declined. While their form has improved somewhat in recent weeks, the fact that they continually seem to take one step forward and then two backwards has left Manchester United fans furious.
Over the last 15 games, Manchester United have lost 8. The defeats to Sunderland, who are currently in 19th place in the table, and FC Midtjylland, the Danish Champions who hadn’t played for two months before their Thursday night contest with United in the Europa League, over the last 7 days have left Louis Van Gaal’s position even more untenable.
“He’s going to Manchester!” Jose Mourinho to Man United is done says Inter director – https://t.co/G7wZtpQftT pic.twitter.com/slhN9m4m6W
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) February 20, 2016
The Dutch manager is odds on favorite to be the next manager sacked in the Premier League, while the odds are increasingly shorter for Jose Mourinho to replace him. Speaking to La Stampa, via The Guardian , earlier this week, Jose Mourinho insisted that he’s not actively searching for a new club, while at the same time distancing himself from replacing Roberto Mancini as Inter Milan manager.
“There is one thing I want to clarify – I will not be directing things over there next season,” Mourinho insisted. “My next club? I really do not know, but one thing is certain – I love football and I will return with the same passion and ambition I’ve always had. Right now I have respect for every coach at every club. I’m not looking for a club, but there are clubs that are looking for me.”
[Image via Associated Press]