Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho does not approve of one major call that the Premier League club have made in his post-Old Trafford reign.
Jose Mourinho, who is currently the manager of Benfica, enjoyed both the highs and lows during his time at Manchester United in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
The ‘Special One’ replaced Louis van Gaal in the Old Trafford dugout in 2016 and Mourinho led United to a League Cup and a Europa League in his debut season.
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Mourinho also secured a second-place finish with United in his second season and fell short of lifting the FA Cup trophy after losing the final to former side Chelsea.
However, the 62-year-old Portuguese coach’s third season would be his last and Mourinho would fail to see out the full 2018-19 campaign with United.
Mourinho was sacked in 2018 after United’s poor start to the 2018-19 season and the Benfica boss was later replaced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on a permanent basis.
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Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho attends a press conference ahead of the UEFA Champions League third-round qualifying match between Feyenoord and Fenerbahce in 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
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Jose Mourinho’s powerful verdict on Scott McTominay after the Napoli midfielder was sold by Man Utd in 2024
Scott McTominay emerged in the Manchester United first team during Jose Mourinho’s reign after climbing through the ranks of the club’s youth academy.
Mourinho is a big fan of Scott McTominay and the 29-year-old Scottish midfielder regularly featured under the Special One during his time at the Premier League club.
However, McTominay’s run at United came to an end in 2024 after the Red Devils made the decision to sell the Scotland international to Napoli for a £25.7m fee.
Former United manager Mourinho insisted that Napoli midfielder McTominay has become the player that he has done on his own accord and not because of him.
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Speaking to Prime Video Sport’s Italian YouTube channel, he said: “I think the only thing Scott ‘owes’ me, if we can put it that way, is that I left [Paul] Pogba out to let him play.
“Shortly after, I did the same in a Premier League match, and then in the Champions League in Seville.
“The only thing he owes me – because it happens with every player – is that in every player’s history there’s always a coach who gives them their first chance.
“When you’re 17 or 18, there’s always a first time. I was that first-time coach. Everything else is him.”
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Jose Mourinho’s reaction to Man Utd allowing Scott McTominay to leave Old Trafford and sign for Napoli
United signed Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain and the 24-year-old Uruguayan midfielder’s arrival paved the way for Scott McTominay’s departure.
Erik ten Hag was Red Devils head coach at the time of McTominay’s exit and the 55-year-old Dutchman had been keen to keep hold of the Napoli ace at Old Trafford.
Mourinho is convinced that United’s decision to sell McTominay was a “huge mistake” in an error of decisions made in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
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“When he first trained with the first team, he didn’t go there to stroll around, he didn’t go back to the youth team,” he added.
“He went there to stay there.
“After Manchester United made the mistake of letting him go, we all know that over the last seven, eight, nine years, they’ve made many mistakes.
“But this one was a huge, huge mistake.”
McTominay has deeply impressed at Napoli since his move to Italy and the former United academy prospect has become a key player for manager Antonio Conte.
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