Mourinho and Solskjaer Rekindle Rivalry in Turkey as Special One Questions Man Utd Legend’s Parenting Skills
After four years of rivalry, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are poised to face each other once again tomorrow.
Two icons of the Premier League, now managing in Istanbul.
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Both the Special One and the composed Norwegian will thrive in the high stakes, as Fenerbahce’s diminishing championship hopes hinge on a victory against Solskjaer’s Besiktas.
It’s tough not to wonder if both ex-Manchester United managers might be yearning for one final chance in English football.
Mourinho’s three Premier League titles with Chelsea overshadow Solskjaer’s stints at Cardiff and United.
The Portuguese tactician bagged both the Carabao Cup and the Europa League during his time at Old Trafford, while Solskjaer’s highlight was falling short in the Europa League final against Villarreal in May 2021.
This happened just two months after the two exchanged jabs following United’s 3-1 win against Mourinho’s Tottenham, moments before he was dismissed by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.
It was somewhat trivial, with Solskjaer accusing Son Heung-min of “deceiving” the referee, leading to a VAR review that overturned a United goal.
Solskjaer commented then: “If my son went down like that and gathered ten of his friends around him, he wouldn’t be getting any food.”
Mourinho replied that Solskjaer’s remarks left him “very sad,” adding: “Sonny is fortunate that his father is a better person than Ole.”
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“As a father, you must always provide for your children. If you have to resort to stealing to feed them, then that’s what you do.
“I am genuinely disappointed. Like we say in Portugal, bread is bread and cheese is cheese. I have already conveyed my thoughts to Ole.”
Surreal moment Jose Mourinho pinches the Galatasaray manager’s NOSE before creating chaos
Now, four years on, Solskjaer has taken the helm of the Black Eagles since January, and they are set to meet once again.
Since stepping in for Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Solskjaer, 52, has propelled his squad from seventh to fourth in the Turkish Super Lig, aiming for a Europa League playoff spot if they can surpass third-placed Samsunspor.
For Mourinho, whose team trails rivals Galatasaray by five points with five matches remaining, this clash is pivotal.
Yet, as the game approaches, both have temporarily shelved their grievances.
When asked about their rivalry, the man whose decisive goal ended Bayern Munich’s aspirations for the 1999 Treble downplayed it.
The Besiktas manager stated: “This isn’t merely a match between Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“It’s a confrontation between Besiktas and Fenerbahce. The outcome will be determined by the players. I hold immense respect for Mourinho.
“Few managers have achieved what he has, and I’m looking forward to a derby of this scale.”
However, considering their histories in English football, it feels strange for them to have ended up here — and surely this isn’t their final destination.
While it’s challenging to pinpoint a Premier League club where Solskjaer would be a perfect match, his time at Cardiff suggests he could be a compelling candidate for an ambitious side in the Championship.
As for Mourinho, who has experienced both triumph and tribulation, former Chelsea and England star Joe Cole believes the 62-year-old Special One still has plenty to offer in the Premier League.
Cole remarked: “Jose remains an outstanding manager. He still possesses potential.
“I’d love to see him back in the Premier League. He draws crowds, and if you aim to win trophies, Mourinho is the man to trust.”
Mourinho left Spurs with a lot to prove — clinching the UEFA Conference League with Roma in 2022 as a statement.
Like Solskjaer, he has unfinished business in England and would relish another opportunity.
This weekend, however, the focus is on the passion and intensity of Istanbul.
A draw would favor Solskjaer, who may opt to play without a traditional No. 9, while Mourinho MUST secure a victory.
The only certainty is that sparks will fly both on and off the field.
Neither would have it any other way.
Man Utd ratings vs Athletic Bilbao as Fernandes leads by example but Ugarte struggles
MANCHESTER UNITED are on the brink of their first European final since 2021 following an impressive 3-0 victory over Athletic Club in Bilbao.
Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes spearheaded the attack in Spain, overcoming one of LaLiga’s most formidable defenses.
Ruben Amorim opted for a daring lineup as United faced off against Europe’s strongest home defense.
Bilbao had allowed just 11 goals at the Estadio de San Mames this season, with the atmosphere electric in the opening moments.
However, after a few near misses for the hosts, the match shifted with Casemiro’s opener against the flow of play – following some impressive skills from Harry Maguire.
The Brazilian put United ahead after a controversial red card for Dani Vivian for fouling Rasmus Hojlund in the box.
Bruno Fernandes smoothly converted the penalty and netted another just prior to halftime, rounding Julen Agirrezabala one-on-one.
Bilbao then sat back for the remainder of the match, limiting the score to three.
United, who have been inconsistent throughout the season, are now the favorites to reach the Europa League final.
Here’s how SunSport’s Jim Sheridan rated the Red Devils in Bilbao…