Jose Mourinho could win West Ham United the Europa Conference League – talkSPORT pundit
Darren Bent would not be surprised if Jose Mourinho went to West Ham and won the Europa Conference League, with David Moyes under pressure.
A report from La Roma 24 on Monday (6 March) suggested that a “notable offer” had been made to the former Chelsea boss from the London Stadium, although the Portuguese is apparently happy to stay at Roma currently.
Fans and players appear to be turning on Moyes with the club locked in a Premier League relegation battle, but are into the last-16 of the European trophy with the first leg against AEK Larneca on Thursday, and while initially ruling out the Mourinho link Bent believes it would be a fruitful one if it happened.
A shocked Andy Goldstein reacted to the news of potential interest in the manager on talkSPORT on Tuesday (7 March), saying: “West Ham, you don’t want Jose. You don’t want him.”
Bent started saying: “Jose’s not going to West Ham. He needs to go somewhere he’s got an opportunity…”.
He then changed hid mind and continued: “But then again though, [you] say that, it would not surprise me if he did do that and won them the Europa Conference League.”
“You don’t want that, no-one does,” replied Goldstein.
They do
Mourinho is certainly not the same coach he once was but with the board apparently sticking with Moyes just because they can’t come up with anyone better, the Special One would appear to be that.
He won the Conference League last season with the Serie A side, so there is every chance that Bent is right that he would do so again back in London if he came in.
It seems unlikely at this point, given top managers are particularly hesitant to leave a job they are already doing at this point in the season.
But perhaps he is not a candidate who should be completely ignored for the summer, given that his profile certainly matches the enhanced ambition shown in the transfer market over the past year.
And with Moyes proving unable to fashion the expensive new arrivals into a cohesive unit, a big name like Mourinho would be used to high-priced stars.
Whether a squad that is apparently already growing sick of the current manager’s tactics would be amenable to the notoriously pragmatic former Champions League winner is another matter.
If Moyes can successfully survive until the summer and keep the club up he may be give another shot, but without significant improvement fast his long-term prospects don’t look too strong.