- Mourinho hinted that the return of the Premier League could happen in the future
- The Portuguese coach last managed Man United in the Premier League
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José Mourinho has hinted at a possible return to the Premier League after being questioned about the fate of his former club Manchester United.
Speaking ahead of Fenerbahce’s Europa League clash against United on Thursday, the former United manager said he believes there is more to his former team’s form than meets the eye.
But the 61-year-old also refused to criticize former United team, who are currently experiencing their worst start to a Premier League season and facing a tumultuous time, on and off the field.
“Honestly, it’s not my place to answer,” Mourinho said in Wednesday’s pre-match press conference. ‘I always repeat the same thing. I want them to be successful. They won’t play against me in the Premier League.
Jose Mourinho teased a possible return to the Premier League before facing Man United
The now Fenerbahçe manager was asked about his time as United manager before the clash.
Mourinho reflected on his time and also said that United are a better team than their form suggests.
“Of course, tomorrow I want to win, that is the basis of football, but I wish them the best.” As I wish you well, I wish everyone here well.
‘You English people think I’m bluffing or playing mind games. They have a better team than their results show.
“We keep an eye on everything, there is work there and sooner or later they will get it.”
Then Mourinho, who saw his greatest success in the Premier League with west London side Chelsea, joked that he could well return to England to manage again.
“Hopefully before and hopefully before I return to the Premier League and they become my opponents.”
Asked to reflect on his last spell in the Premier League, Mourinho was asked if he regretted leaving United.
“The truth is that I didn’t waste a minute thinking about it,” he responded. ‘I wish Manchester United the best from the moment I left. I left with good feelings about the club, about the fans.
Former Roma coach Mourinho took charge of Turkish Super League side Fenerbache in June
The 61-year-old has won the Premier League three times with Chelsea, where he arrived as ‘The Special One’ in 2004.
He last managed in the Premier League during an unfortunate spell with Tottenham in 2021.
‘I want the best for them. If things aren’t going very well, it’s not something that makes me happy but, at the same time, I don’t have time and it doesn’t make sense for me to be thinking about what happened, what didn’t happen.’
Mourinho’s Premier League career dates back to 2004, when he made his managerial debut with Chelsea. He managed the Blues until 2007, winning the league in his debut season (2004-05) and the following 2005-06 season.
He would return for a second season between 2013 and 2015, winning the Premier League for the third time in the 2014-15 season.
The Portuguese manager would then take the reins for almost two seasons at Old Trafford, helping United win the EFL Cup and Europa League in the 2016-17 season.
His last Prem job was an ill-fated 17-month spell at Tottenham, where he led a post-Pochettino Spurs team to an EFL Cup final in 2021, only to be unceremoniously sacked by chairman Daniel Levy days before the final. .
