José Mourinho’s Deep Respect for Sir Alex Ferguson
After being rivals for many years and later working together between 2016 and 2018, the Portuguese coach has developed a solid relationship with the legendary Scottish manager.
José Mourinho is a hard character to pin down. Sometimes mocking, other times stern, the Portuguese enjoys keeping people guessing, playing different roles, and delivering his remarks as if they were lines in a play. With his controversial statements and provocations, he has forged intense rivalries throughout his career, clashing with coaches like Pep Guardiola, Arsène Wenger, and even Sir Alex Ferguson.
However, this rivalry has never prevented respect and admiration. Ahead of a new encounter against Manchester United, a club he left in December 2018 after two and a half years at Old Trafford, the former Chelsea manager expressed his appreciation for the legendary Scottish coach, now 82 years old. “He’s incredible. When my Netflix documentary comes out, you’ll understand why I respect him so much,” Mourinho said, leaving the specifics of his thoughts ambiguous but making his admiration for Ferguson clear.
“He has the love and respect of all Manchester United fans”
His remarks also reflect the controversy surrounding Ferguson’s removal from his ambassadorial role at Manchester United, reportedly due to cost-cutting measures. Mourinho chose not to delve into the matter but commented, “I don’t know the situation, and it doesn’t matter why. He has the love and respect of all Manchester United fans worldwide, and that’s more important than any ambassador role or money, which he doesn’t need.”
With these words, Mourinho seemed to send a subtle jab at the current Red Devils management, just before their clash in Istanbul, where he will be keen to secure a win and avoid a similar fate to Ferguson after a shaky start to the season that has fallen short of the lofty expectations surrounding his arrival last summer.
