Currently managing AEK Athens in Greece, José Morais was once one of José Mourinho’s closest and most trusted assistants, following him to Inter Milan, Real Madrid and then Chelsea for the Special One’s second spell in charge of the London.
Now a full-time manager in his own right, the 51-year-old gave an interview to Aftonbladet in Sweden about his new life in southern Europe and his recent health scare when he suffered a two centimetre brain haemorrhage.
Having fully recovered, Morais was also asked by the Swedish newspaper about Mourinho’s difficult start in charge of Manchester United, with whom he keeps in touch ‘as often as we can’, calling him ‘a great inspiration’ and someone who will ‘always be there’.
He said: “José is one of the world’s best managers, but he needs to sort things out at Manchester United that go back three or four years. He hasn’t been there long. I think he’s better than anyone else to resolve things within the club, such as the lack of discipline, motivation and ambition.
“Manchester United lost a bit of its identity when Alex Ferguson quit as manager. José Mourinho gives identity and it will define the club. His second season is normally his best. This season is there to get things in order.”
Currently eighth in the Premier League after a rather unfortunate 0-0 draw against Burnley last weekend, Manchester United and Mourinho will be looking for three points on Sunday against struggling Swansea City.
What Morais says rings true, especially when looking back to Mourinho’s second spell in charge of Chelsea, when he came third in his first season, before marching comfortably to the title in his second.
He will be given time by the club, but only if Champions League qualification remains within reach, which, with 28 games still to go, is the case.
For now.
