Why I Chose Chelsea Over Replacing Alex Ferguson At Man United – Jose Mourinho

Real Madrid coach José Mourinho has revealed why he choose Chelsea over Manchester United in 2013.

Jose Mourinho was reportedly on course to become Man Utd manager after Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, but the Portuguese coach changed his decision and returned to Chelsea instead.

The revelation was made in a new three-part Netflix documentary titled “Mourinho,” which looks at the manager’s successful but often controversial career.

The documentary was produced by Ventureland, the company behind “Beckham” and “FIFA Uncovered.”

It follows Mourinho’s career, including his time at Real Madrid, where he challenged Pep Guardiola’s dominant Barcelona side.

Mourinho left Real Madrid in 2013 after three difficult seasons. His relationship with several players had deteriorated, while his dispute with then-captain Iker Casillas also became public.

After leaving Madrid, Mourinho said he had already agreed to take over at Manchester United following Ferguson’s retirement.

“I think the objective of this work that we are doing is to tell the truth.

“When I left Real Madrid, I signed with Manchester United to go to Manchester United after Sir Alex,” Mourinho said in the documentary.

Ferguson confirmed that Mourinho had been offered the job and initially appeared ready to accept it.

However, the former United manager said Mourinho changed his mind only hours later.

“[Mourinho] was offered a job, yes. I sat him down and explained the situation. And as far as I was concerned, he was accepting. And then within hours, it changed,” Ferguson said in the documentary.

Mourinho explained that his difficult final period at Real Madrid influenced his choice.

He said he wanted to return to a club where he felt loved and eventually decided to go back to Chelsea.

“Evening he phoned me and he was crying, and he says ‘Oh, I can’t take it, I’ve given my word to Chelsea, and I’m not going to break my word,'” Ferguson said.

“The reason he gave to me, I could understand. But I was disappointed.”

Mourinho admitted that missing the opportunity to succeed Ferguson at Man United was a painful decision but he had no regrets because he followed his heart.

He said: “For me to lose the chance to be the coach to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson was dramatic. But I don’t regret it because it was a decision that I made with my heart.

“And I think it is Nietzsche that says that when you do something for love, you are never doing anything wrong. I think it’s nature. I did it for love.

“I went back with the feeling of yes, I go home, but with a big responsibility because what I did before is history, and you don’t want to destroy your legacy.”

Jose Mourinho had already enjoyed major success during his first spell at Chelsea.

He ended the club’s long wait for a league title by leading them to the Premier League championship in the 2004-05 season, before winning the title again the following year.

When he returned to Chelsea for a second spell, Mourinho guided the club to another Premier League title in the 2014-15 season. However, he was dismissed again after a poor start to the following campaign.

Mourinho eventually became Manchester United manager in 2016. During his two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford, he won the Europa League and League Cup before leaving the club.

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