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28 March 2024

Mourinho for Man Utd, Pep to Chelsea

Real Madrid's coach Jose Mourinho reacts during their Spanish First Division soccer match against Sevilla at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville September 15, 2012. (REUTERS)

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By Staff

Jose Mourinho is heading to Manchester United and not Chelsea as hopes of a Barca type revolution by the immiment return of Pep Guardiola in one of these two Premier League clubs recede.

The Real Madrid boss will be the centre of attraction when they play at Etihad Stadium in the Champions League away match to Manchester City on Wednesday.

"It is hardly the greatest secret that Jose is planning - one day - to manage again in the Premier League and it wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up in Manchester. But I can picture him being at United rather than City," Harry Redknapp wrote in a column in The Sun (https://bit.ly/UyAOuq).

The former Spurs boss believes Mourinho is the man who could replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford eventually.

He said: "When Alex Ferguson eventually calls time on his amazing career, there will not be many serious contenders to take over.

"But Jose, I have no doubt, would be big enough to take on the ultimate challenge and succeed the greatest manager this country has ever seen.

"He would be amazing at Old Trafford. His style would be very different to Fergie’s but I’m sure he would get the same amount of success."

Ferguson had unofficially anointed Guardiola, on a sabbatical in New York after four glorious years at Nou Camp, as his successor.

Mourinho, who had a successful stint at Chelsea, had strongly hinted at a return to the Premier League.

Admittedly filling the boots of Ferguson would be nearly impossible.

But Redknapp feels on the self-style 'Special One' could attempt to do it.

He said: "Taking over from Fergie, whenever it happens, will also be almost impossible.

"But Jose could once again be the special one. If anyone could do it, he could — and United fans would love him."