7 Things Jose Mourinho Was Right About at Manchester United

Jose Mourinho’s spell as the Manchester United manager from 2016 to 2018 wasn’t a total disaster, although it’s not unfair to suggest that, ultimately, it was a disappointment. The revered Portuguese boss signed a three-year contract at Old Trafford in May 2016, but was eventually sacked following a 3-1 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield in December 2018.

The former Chelsea manager has always been more than willing to let the media and wider world know exactly how he feels – whether he’s unhappy with his employers or his players – and tensions appeared to have reached a climax at Old Trafford under his stewardship.

Ever since his departure, the club’s fortunes haven’t seen significant improvement, despite brief high points under both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag. Mourinho, who was in charge at Old Trafford for two-and-a-half years, has never been shy about voicing his opinion on any subject – and certainly had plenty to say about the state of the club, both during and after his reign.

Not every Mourinho rant about United had sound reasoning behind them but, in hindsight, a number did. Let’s take a closer look at seven occasions when the ‘Special One’ was spot on with his Man Utd comments.

1 Insisted Rashford Wasn’t Suited to No. 9 Role

The English forward produces his best work from the left

In brief spells, it has appeared that Marcus Rashford possesses all the tools to become the most prolific player in the club’s history, although the Englishman has been a forward that performs well in patches and thrives off confidence. However, Mourinho was seemingly never convinced by the England international’s ability as a pure striker. He said:

At the age of 26, there’s still time for Rashford to prove his former boss wrong. But the fact that the England international’s joint-best goalscoring season to date – the 2022-23 campaign, in which he netted 30 goals in all competitions – came from playing on the left-wing, does prove Mourinho’s point.

2 Insisted United Needed a World-Class Centre-Back

Harry Maguire was signed only six months after Mourinho lost his job

In the 2018 summer transfer window – just months before he was relieved of his duties – Mourinho openly fumed at the fact that he hadn’t been allowed to sign a top centre-back to shore up United’s back-line. Numerous targets were reportedly turned down by the club’s hierarchy, leaving United with Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Victor Lindelof and Marcos Rojo as their options in central defence for the start of the season.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Super Sunday, after his departure from the club, Mourinho even said: “I was not an idiot in the last pre-season [with Man United], I was crying for a central defender.” Blunt honesty from the ex-United boss – you’d expect nothing less.

Since Mourinho’s departure, United have invested significant funds to recruit the likes of Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez, Raphael Varane, Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro. Martinez and Varane formed a solid partnership for a while and Mourinho would have benefitted from talent like that during his time in charge.

3 Questioned Martial’s Commitment to the Club

The French forward eventually left Old Trafford in 2024

After nine years, Anthony Martial’s time at Old Trafford came to an end in the summer of 2024 when the Red Devils decided not to renew his contract. It came after several bitterly disappointing years, with the Frenchman struggling to find consistent form and injuries denied him from regular action.

During a 2019 appearance on Sky Sports, Mourinho indicated that Martial wasn’t as committed to the United cause as other players, even hinting that he preferred to play in a central attacking role, rather than on the wing, as it involved less work.

“I know that Martial likes to play as No. 9 sometimes, I think for the right reasons, sometimes I think for the wrong reasons, but I know he likes to play as a No. 9,” shared Mourinho. Given how Martial’s United career eventually nosedived, Mourinho had a point here.

4 Believed McTominay Could Become a Top Player

The Scottish midfielder took his game to new levels

While Mourinho was derided for many of his comments about his squad during his time in charge, he had plenty of positivity for United academy product Scott McTominay. “He is the one that did everything,” Mourinho said of McTominay, as he named the Scot his own Player of the Year in 2018.

Mourinho added: “He started the season in the Academy and ends the season playing in big matches, in Premier League derbies and Champions League matches, while becoming an important player for the squad. So I thought this kid cannot go home without an award, so he’s going to get my award.”

The 27-year-old left United in 2024, but not before becoming a key player for the club. During the 2023-24 season, he was a standout performer, saving the Red Devils’ skin on more than one occasion. He’s now shining for both his country and Napoli in Italy. Mourinho spotted his talent earlier and was dead on the money.

5 Criticised Pogba’s Influence on the Dressing Room

Pogba’s time at Old Trafford turned sour as he departed for free in 2022

Just weeks before the end of his United tenure, Mourinho reportedly launched a staggering verbal volley at one of his first Man United signings, Paul Pogba, in the team’s dressing room following a 2-2 draw at Southampton. Per The Sun, Mourinho reportedly told the Frenchman: “You don’t play, you don’t respect players and supporters, and you kill the mentality of good, honest people around you.”

Harsh words indeed. Whether Mourinho was justified in unleashing that sort of fury at one of his players in a team setting is debatable. However, his Old Trafford form was never consistently at the level that persuaded United to break the bank in order to re-sign him from Juventus in 2016.

Pogba would exit the English club in 2022 to re-join Juve once again without having had the desired impact during his time at the Theatre of Dreams. The squad’s morale did appear to instantly increase as the Red Devils enjoyed their best season in some time under Ten Hag in 2022-23.

The club haven’t got past the quarter finals since Mourinho’s rant

After being knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid in 2018, Mourinho went on an epic rant about, in his words: “Football heritage.” During a press conference, the then-United boss was quick to point out: “The last time Manchester United won the Champions League – which didn’t happen a lot of times – was in 2008.”

He then went on to give a brief history of how far the club had got in the competition since their last success and even included: “In 2013, out at Old Trafford in the round of 16. I was on the other bench,” highlighting that he had even knocked United out of Europe during his time with Real Madrid. This will have done the manager no favours with the club’s fan base.

Not stopping at the European shortcomings of the club, Mourinho then detailed every Premier League finish since the last title Sir Alex Ferguson won in 2013. The point he was hammering home was that he was not the issue, and it is hard to disagree in hindsight, as United have struggled to even qualify for the tournament at times since this rant took place.

7 Finishing Second With United in 2017/18 was an Achievement

Let’s face it. Mourinho has been incredibly successful down the years. Winning titles in Portugal, England, Spain and Italy, ‘The Special One’ has no shortage of silverware to his name. Many were subsequently taken aback when he referred to United’s Premier League runners-up finish in 2017/18 as one of the greatest triumphs – and demanded more credit for the accomplishment.

Considering how the club have fared since his exit, Mourinho’s point feels like a fair one in hindsight. He was mocked for it at the time, but the Portuguese tactician looks to have been right on the mark with this statement. Just six years later and there isn’t a United fan who wouldn’t bite your hand off for a second-placed finish.

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and accurate as of 04.10.2024.