‘Who knows’ how long I’ll stay at United – Mourinho

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said that he wants to stay at the club at least until the end of his contract but, after that, “who knows.”

Mourinho signed a three-year contract when he arrived at United this summer, with the option of an extension until at least 2020. It has been a challenging start for the former Chelsea manager at his new club, which has included two FA charges, which he refused to react to on Wednesday.

Mourinho was banned for a game and fined for allegedly using ”abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official” in the tunnel at half-time.
And speaking at his news conference in Istanbul ahead of United’s clash with Fenerbahce, Mourinho was asked for his thoughts on his latest FA charge and the incident it had stemmed from.

The Portuguese replied: “No — no reaction.”

Mourinho was then asked if, more generally, he regretted his behaviour towards match officials this season, or felt hard done by, to which he simply responded: “Next question.”

The former Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss was more forthcoming, however, when he was later asked about the prospect of managing in Turkey.

“The first time that I got an invitation to leave Porto and coach abroad, it was a Turkish club back in 2002-03. It didn’t happen,” he said. “Since then, in 13 or 14 years of football, it never happened again.

“Now I’m where I want to be, so happy to be. In the minimum, I want to stay until the end of my contract. After that, who knows? I’m a football man, very young. I love passion for the game and, in Turkey, there is huge passion for the game, so why not?”

Turkey can be a hostile environment for travelling sides but United have already defeated Fenerbahce, 4-1 at Old Trafford, in the sides’ first Europa League meeting of the campaign.

Mourinho admitted that he is taking the competition more seriously these days, explaining: “My opinion changed because the rules changed and the Europa League: the winner has a direct [route] to the Champions League. In the last couple of years, the Europa League for the big clubs has a different meaning.”

Information from Press Association was used in this report.