‘After Conte, Mourinho is probably manager of season’

Matt Stead

Jose Mourinho’s season would come second only to Antonio Conte’s “when” Manchester United win the Europa League, says Joe Cole.

Mourinho led United to a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League in his first campaign, but could still secure Champions League qualification.

The Reds face Ajax in the Europa League final on Wednesday, and Cole believes that not only is the result already a formality, but it will make the Portuguese a “success” already at Old Trafford.

“Not only do I think he will be a success, he’s already a success,” Cole told Goal. “I’ve seen ex-players criticise him, but he’s already a success there.

“And when he wins the Europa League, I’ll go as far as to say that — after Conte — he’s probably the manager of the season, to get that group of players to win two trophies and get to the Champions League.

“Sure, they might finish fifth or sixth. But he’s gone so far deep in Europe that these games where he drew at home to Swansea and all that is difficult.

“If he would have not been in Europe he would have won that game for sure, and probably finished fourth anyway.

“The criticism he’s gotten this year has been just ridiculous and unjust. He’s already won a trophy.

“Let’s just say he’s gone deep in the Europa League and there’s probably a good chance he’s going to win, so that’s two trophies.”