Charlie Nicholas provides his verdict on Jose Mourinho's Manchester United spell
Charlie Nicholas provides his verdict on Jose Mourinho's Manchester United spell

Charlie Nicholas: Jose Mourinho wasn't bad at Manchester United - they were on a spiral


Soccer Saturday pundit Charlie Nicholas assesses Jose Mourinho's time at Old Trafford ahead of his return with Tottenham on Wednesday.

Read also: Alex Keble says Jose Mourinho can seize the moment

Was Jose actually that bad at Man United?

What kind of reception will he get off the Manchester United fans?

"I think he will get some applause when he walks down the side to the dugout. I do not see it being hostile and I wouldn’t understand it.

"I do not deny that Man United fans think he didn’t want to stay in the hotel and that he was costing them all that money, but only Jose has the answer to that and the reality to that saga and story.

"I never got the vibe of dislike. Man Utd won trophies, he represented their club and did so in decent fashion. It may be similar to Arsenal. It was perhaps a lack of leadership of hierarchy rather than pinpointing the actual manager.

"Louis van Gaal had the arrogance and Jose had a different style to that I think. He gave them something back, but a lot of the players were guilty. The leadership and hierarchy of the club is where the leadership lacks. There will be a fair amount of applause for Jose."

Will he get one over his old side?