Jose Mourinho clarifies position after rumours of PSG switch

Mourinho is mid-way through a three-year contract at United and there have been suggestions that the club are considering offering the coach that won two major trophies in his first season at the club a new contract.

However in recent days, the English media have been questioning Mourinho’s short-term future at United after he claimed in an interview that he did not expect to finish his career at the club, while he also suggested that he admired the project being undertaken by French side Paris Saint-Germain.

With 54-year-old Mourinho looking to stay in the game for another 15 years, the notion that he would remain at United until he retires was dismissed by the Portuguese boss in his pre-match press conference ahead of his side’s game against Benfica on Wednesday.

“I think you English media have the answer for that because, in one day, it says that I am going to sign a five-year contract, for £1billion per season and then, the next day, you say that I am leaving and going to PSG. I think that is the answer,” he said.

“The answer is that nothing is happening. I am not signing a new five-year contract and I am not leaving for PSG. I am at Manchester United and I have a contract and that is it.

“The only thing that I told is true and there was not a misinterpretation of my words was I am not going to end my career at Manchester United.

“I was asked how is it possible in modern football that any manager is going to last 15 to 20 years in the same club.

“I think Arsene Wenger is the last one at Arsenal. I think it is impossible for us with everything that surrounds the job, all of the pressures that surround the job.

“I think it is impossible to last for so long. If, in this moment, I wanted to finish my career in two, three, four or five years then I would say yes, I want to finish my career with Manchester United.

“But I think I am going to be a manager for 15 more years, minimum, in the job, and I think it is impossible to stay for 17 years in the same club. I think it is the impossible mission.

“Even if you want to, you can try, but I think it is impossible. Wenger is the last one. That was my answer. I don’t think I am going to end my career at Manchester United. That was my answer.

“After that, some people tried to be clever, some people tried to be malicious and they said many different things. But the reality is simple. I did not sign a new contract but I am not thinking about leaving.”

The reality must be that Mourinho is more likely to sign a contract extension at United rather than leave the club in the next couple of years, with his long-term future likely to be decided by his side’s progress in the Premier League and Champions League this season.