Jose Mourinho has expressed his support for Manchester United’s decision to stick with manager Ruben Amorim, despite a disappointing season that saw them finish 15th in the Premier League.
It was their lowest-ever finish, and the Red Devils missed out on Champions League qualification in the process.
To cap things off, United lost 1-0 to Tottenham in the Europa League final, ending any hope of salvaging European football for next season.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Mourinho, who remains the last United coach to lift a European trophy in 2017, acknowledged the tough impact of the club’s latest setback.
“From what I read, the impact [of the Europa League final loss] on Man United is huge because of how long it’s been since they’ve had no European competition,” Mourinho said.
“But at the same time, it looks like they are supporting Ruben. They’re giving him time and the right conditions to move forward.”
Jose Mourinho: “I read some quotes from him [Ruben Amorim] saying he’s happy he came [to United] and had already these six months. When I went to Porto, the same thing happened to me.
I went in January and I had a difficult six months, we struggled even to qualify for UEFA Cup… pic.twitter.com/Kj0ZGTEoKH
— MUFC Scoop (@MUFCScoop) May 27, 2025
Amorim took over from Sporting in November but couldn’t steer United out of trouble, ending with an apology to fans after their dismal league finish.
Earlier this week, he suggested that the absence of European games could actually be a blessing as he focuses on improving the squad’s performance for the next campaign.
Mourinho can relate. He said that his own early experience at Porto in 2002 mirrored Amorim’s current situation. “When I went to Porto, the same thing happened,” he explained.
“I arrived in January and had a tough six months. We were even struggling to qualify for the UEFA Cup. And then it happened, what happened.”
Mourinho’s first full season at Porto was a successful one. He led them to a domestic treble and then captured the Champions League title the following year.
Now managing Fenerbahce in Turkey, he sees a similar chance for Amorim to build on this rough start at Old Trafford.