Jose Mourinho’s days in the Premier League may be over, but he’s still keeping an eye on what’s going on at Manchester United as well as other former clubs.
After struggling to win football matches, especially over the festive period against lesser teams, Ruben Amorim was sacked by Manchester United.
It didn’t help that Amorim challenged Ineos during a press conference less than 24 hours before Sir Jim Ratcliffe decided to part ways with the former Sporting CP manager.
That decision eventually led to Michael Carrick becoming United’s head coach until the end of the season. The former England international previously served as interim manager at the club for a brief period in 2021, but can now boast a record of four matches unbeaten in the hot seat.
However, there are questions as to whether Carrick has done enough in the game to warrant the United job on a full-time basis.
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One way Carrick can ensure that he is part of the conversation in the summer is by qualifying for the Champions League, though the jury is out with 16 matches to play before the season concludes.
Carrick has made a positive start in his new role after United beat Man City 2-0 in a one-sided derby affair last weekend.
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There’s no doubt about the morale boost he has given some of the players, as proven when Lisandro Martinez praised Carrick following his arrival.
Jose Mourinho giving instructions to Benfica players in the Champions League
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Jose Mourinho unhappy with top clubs hiring inexperienced coaches
Jose Mourinho returned to manage in his home country after a spell with Fenerbahce came to an end at the start of the season, but a fresh rant from the 62-year-old suggests he is baffled by some of the decisions made by the biggest clubs in Europe.
Of course, Mourinho has managed some of the biggest clubs, including Real Madrid and Manchester United, which means that his criticism applies to some of his former clubs.
Three of Mourinho’s clubs have changed personnel in the dugout since the beginning of 2026. Real Madrid parted ways with Xabi Alonso after seven months, only to be succeeded by the inexperienced Alvaro Arbeloa. United hired Carrick for the remainder of the season, while Chelsea gave Liam Rosenior a six-year contract following Enzo Maresca’s dismissal.
These decisions have led to a Mourinho rant because he isn’t happy with the way certain owners are making managerial decisions, similarly to how his former assistant Rui Faria slated Ineos’ model at United.
Mourinho addressed the media before his Benfica side suffered a 2-0 defeat against Juventus in the Champions League when he ranted about the decision-making at top clubs.
“For me, it is a surprise when coaches with no history and no work done have the opportunity to coach the most important teams in the world; this is real surprise,” Mourinho said, as per Leggo.
“When Milan takes Allegri, when Juventus takes Spalletti or when Roma chooses Gasperini, these are never surprises.”
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Mourinho’s criticisms may be aimed at Madrid and Chelsea more than United, but Carrick only had two and a half years in charge of Middlesbrough before returning to Old Trafford as head coach last week.
The former England international also worked under Mourinho as a coach at United before carrying out a similar role as part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s backroom staff.
It could be argued that Carrick has done more to warrant a top job than Arbeloa and Rosenior.
This may also suggest that Mourinho is envious of the modern coaches who are getting the top jobs ahead of him.
Jose Mourinho outburst similar to ‘heritage’ rant in 2018
This isn’t the first time Mourinho has gone on a rant and it’s unlikely to be the last.
The former United manager went on an iconic rant in 2018 after United suffered Champions League elimination at the hands of Sevilla.
Mourinho had already won the Europa League and Carabao Cup as United manager, but failure to get past the round of 16 led to one of his most iconic rants.
“I say to the fans that the fans are the fans, and the fans have the right to have their opinions and to have their reactions,” Mourinho said.
“But there is something that I used to call football heritage – I try to translate from my Portuguese, which is almost perfect to my English that is far from perfect.
“But translation, word by word is something like football heritage and what a manager inherits is something like is that the last time Manchester United won the Champions League, which didn’t happen a lot of times, was in 2008. The final was 2011.”
After revealing pre-prepared notes, Mourinho added: “The last time Manchester United won the Champions League, which didn’t happen a lot of times, was 2011 (interruption from the reporters calling out “2008!”) Oh, yes (reached) the final.
“Since 2011, in 2012, out in the group phase. The group was almost the same group as we had this season. Benfica, Basel and Galati from Romania.
“In 2013, out at Old Trafford in the last-16 (phase). I was on the other bench.
“In 2014, out in the quarter-final.
“In 2015, no European football.
“In 2016, comes back to European football. Out in the group phase, goes to Europa League and, in the second knockout, out of the Europa League…
“In 2017, play Europa League. Win Europa League – with me. And goes back to Champions League.
“In 2018, win the group phase with 15 points. Impossible (to get) 18. And loses in last-16.”
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And, as we can see in 2026, Mourinho is still a firm believer in football heritage, even when top clubs are making coaching appointments.
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