Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Wayne Rooney recalled one experience with Jose Mourinho at Manchester United that proves Ineos have now avoided a real headache situation at Old Trafford.
The 40-year-old legendary former Manchester United striker spent the tail end of his Red Devils playing spell under Jose Mourinho after Louis van Gaal was sacked.
Wayne Rooney remained as Man Utd captain under the former Chelsea manager, but he fell down the pecking order during Mourinho’s reign at Old Trafford.
Man Utd’s all-time leading scorer lifted the Europa League trophy and the League Cup under the 63-year-old Portuguese coach before he left for Everton in 2017.
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Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney before the UEFA Champions League 2025-26 match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at Anfield in 2025 in Liverpool, England.
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Wayne Rooney’s point about Jose Mourinho’s tactics reinforced the major shortcomings of former Man Utd target Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel had been linked with the Red Devils after Ruben Amorim was sacked last season, but the 52-year-old German head coach inked a new deal with England.
The ex-Chelsea manager led England to the semi-finals of the World Cup in North America this summer and later secured a third-place finish after beating France.
However, Thomas Tuchel was heavily criticised after England fell short against 2022 World Cup champions Argentina in a 2-1 defeat in their semi-final clash.
Wayne Rooney highlighted the difference between Tuchel ‘parking the bus’ with England compared with how Jose Mourinho tactically did it at Manchester United.
“But when you sit back, Mourinho was brilliant at this when he came to Man United,” he said on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show.
“He said, ‘The closer you get to your goal, the more pressure there needs to be on the ball.’ But we [England] sit back and get no pressure on the ball.”
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Man Utd fans would not have been able to handle a worse version of Jose Mourinho’s infamous tactics
England broke the deadlock against Argentina in last month’s semi-final after Anthony Gordon scored the opener before Tuchel ‘parked the bus’ in the clash.
England sat deep in their own half in the second half and invited the pressure from Argentina, which allowed Lionel Scaloni’s men to climb back into the contest.
Enzo Fernandez cancelled out Anthony Gordon’s second-half opener before Lautaro Martinez shattered the hearts of England fans deep into injury time in the match.
According to ESPN, England had 36 per cent possession compared to the 64 per cent that Argentina had by the end of the World Cup tie at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Imagine if United fans had to sit through a repeat of Mourinho’s tactics, but this time, they were implemented far more poorly during a match next season?
Ineos have had to avoid the aforementioned scenario after Tuchel was not brought to Old Trafford and, as a result, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s regime dodged a major bullet.