Jose Mourinho fancies himself as the next boss at Old Trafford. Photograph: Luca Bruno/AP
Last week I questioned Rio Ferdinand’s assertion that Jose Mourinho would be among the best candidates to succeed Sir Alex at Old Trafford. A big debate has opened up on the subject at the Guardian. I’m still firmly entrenched in the ‘frosty day in Hell’ camp, although the story has gained more currency since Jose himself suggested he could one day take the job.
The reason why I don’t think this will happen is simple: Although Mourinho’s football wins things, it is interminably boring and comes at too great a cost. After twenty-plus years of swashbuckling and marauding, no one will put up with the Portuguese’s crap. Legendary slaphead James Richardson agrees:
‘In short, with his domestic success based more on fortuitous refereeing and the odd superb individual performance than any tactical masterplan, and a deteriorating rapport with his players Mourinho’s become the Portuguese Rafa Benítez, just better with the press. Is that really what Old Trafford wants?’
The last thing the Premier League needs is another Rafa, especially when it also means a second dose of Jose-style suffucating boredom.
