Mourinho Chides Man United Cup Drought

Jose Mourinho has taken another swipe at his previous employer’s Manchester United. 

The ‘Special One’ led the Giallorossi to victory in Europe’s third-tier competition’s inaugural edition, making it Mourinho’s fifth continental final victory with a fourth club. His most recent success came as United manager in 2017, when he led the Red Devils to the Europa League, the club’s most recent trophy before a five-year trophy drought, the club’s worst in 48 years.

“As you know I have won European competitions with four different clubs,” Roma manager explained post-match. “Winning with Manchester United even though it was a Manchester United side that lacked the quality of proper United sides, winning with Manchester United is almost natural.

“Winning the Champions League with Porto is not normal. Bringing joy to people by winning the Champions League with Inter. Inter is naturally a huge club, but I think it was 50 years since they had won the Champions League and brought joy to the fans. Today winning this competition brings joy to the people as well.” 

Mourinho’s Roma won the inaugural Europa Conference League while Man Utd prolonged their five-year trophy drought ( Image: Getty Images)

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Listing success at his ex-sides, Mourinho went on to say: “I feel like a Romanista, but that might be my way of working. I am a Porto fan, an Inter [Milan] fan, a Chelsea fan, I am crazy about Real Madrid, I am now a Roma fan, I belong to all those clubs because we had these moments together.” 

The Portuguese then added as the latest in a series of swipes at the Red Devils since his unceremonious sacking in December 2018: “The great thing about my career is that, aside from the Europa League with Manchester United, doing it with Porto, Inter and Roma is very, very, very special.”

It will now be new United manager Erik ten Hag’s weighty task to bring silverware back to Old Trafford, a challenge which the 51-year-old – who led Ajax to three Eredivisie titles in as many completed seasons with the Amsterdam giants – is relishing