José Mourinho has vetoed Ryan Giggs staying at Manchester United as his assistant because of fears that the Welshman could become a potential managerial rival.
It is understood that Mourinho believes that Giggs distanced himself from Louis van Gaal and David Moyes at crucial times during their ill-fated spells in charge at Old Trafford, while the Portuguese is also wary of his close relationship with Paul Scholes, who was highly critical of United’s past two managers.
Mourinho demands unswerving loyalty and complete support in everything he does from his backroom team, and is uncomfortable about welcoming someone who has been open about his ambition to manage United into his inner circle.
While Mourinho has worked successfully with coaches who have gone on to have their own managerial careers, such as Aitor Karanka, the Middlesbrough head coach who assisted him at Real Madrid, he prefers to employ staff who are dedicated to fulfilling his needs.
Mourinho fell out with André Villas-Boas when he sought to leave his entourage at Inter Milan. Giggs was never critical of Moyes or Van Gaal, but did not offer them public backing either and having observed him closely Mourinho felt his body language on the bench was not as supportive as it could have been.
His friendship with Scholes is another concern for Mourinho, as the former England midfielder was a critic of Van Gaal and may be quick to condemn the new manager if United’s style of play does not live up to the club’s traditions of attacking football.
Giggs’s future at Old Trafford has yet to be resolved, but it is thought that his 28-year association with the club with which he won 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League medals as a player will come to an end this summer.
With Mourinho opposed to having Giggs on his staff he has been offered a development role at United working with the club’s youngsters, a demotion from his position as assistant, in which he has one year remaining on his contract.
The 42-year-old went to Dubai on holiday to consider his future after being offered that post by Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman, last month, but has yet to give the club a decision since returning.
In a clear indication of his feelings Mourinho has not made any attempt to contact Giggs since he was appointed as the successor to Van Gaal on May 27, while Woodward has not attempted to intervene.
Giggs’ preference had been to stay at United despite being overlooked for the manager’s job, but Mourinho’s strong feelings and failure to speak to him may have made his position untenable.
His long-term aim is to forge his own managerial career so working with United’s youth teams would represent a step backwards, although his position is complicated by the lack of suitable managerial vacancies at Championship clubs.
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The Times. José Mourinho is also in the market for at least one striker. The new United manager is understood to be considering a move for Breel Embolo, 19, the FC Basel forward playing for Switzerland at Euro 2016.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/football/article4754361.ece
