Jose Mourinho has expressed confidence that Ruben Amorim will overcome his difficult start at Manchester United, drawing parallels to his own challenging beginnings at Porto. The comments came after Tottenham Hotspur defeated Manchester United in the Europa League final, securing their first trophy in 17 years while condemning the Red Devils to a season without European football for the first time since 2014.
“Losing the Europa League final means that for the first time in many years Man United have failed to qualify for any European competition, but it seems they are still supporting Ruben Amorim,” Mourinho told Sky Sports. “When I first came to Porto, I experienced the same thing that Amorim is experiencing now. I had a difficult six months, we even struggled to qualify for the UEFA Cup. But then people saw how successful I was there.”
Mourinho, who has managed both finalists during his illustrious career, admitted feeling conflicted about which team to support in the showpiece event. The ‘Special One’ remains Manchester United’s most successful post-Ferguson manager, having won three trophies during his tenure from 2016 to 2018.
The defeat marks a significant low point for Manchester United, who have endured a tumultuous season. Despite this setback, the club’s hierarchy appears committed to giving Amorim time to implement his vision, having only replaced Erik ten Hag in November. The Portuguese coach has yet to make a significant impact at Old Trafford, but will now have a full pre-season to reshape the squad.
As United face a rare season without midweek European fixtures, Amorim will hope to follow Mourinho’s example of turning initial struggles into eventual success.
