Manchester United and Jose Mourinho reunited in the Europa League
When the Europa League draw was announced in August, one fixture instantly caught the eye: Manchester United’s trip to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce.
While the clash between two European giants is exciting on its own, it will be the off-pitch narrative that has fans buzzing as Jose Mourinho comes up against his former side.
The Portuguese managed United from 2016 to 2018 and is now in the hot seat at Turkey’s most successful club.
He goes head-to-head with beleaguered current United manager Erik ten Hag in a fixture filled with history and intrigue, sparking excitement as these two tacticians prepare for a high-stakes showdown.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo breaks down what to expect from the match.
Mourinho at United
The self-anointed Special One’s record at Manchester United was a mixed bag, but in hindsight many supporters now regard him as the best manager the club has had since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
Despite the turbulence that eventually ended his tenure, Mourinho delivered silverware, winning both the League Cup and the Europa League in 2016/17.
But perhaps the moment that best encapsulates Mourinho’s time at Old Trafford came when he called Manchester United’s second-place finish in the 2017/18 Premier League his “most significant accomplishment” as a coach.
For a man who had won Premier League titles with Chelsea, La Liga with Real Madrid, Serie A with Inter Milan, and the Champions League with Porto and Inter, this statement surprised many.
Yet, it speaks volumes about the difficulties he faced during his time at United.
That season, United finished a staggering 19 points behind Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, and Mourinho saw it as a personal victory to keep the team competitive in such a challenging period.
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Fond memories
His tenure coincided with a period of rebuilding, one where the club struggled to return to its glory days, but Mourinho’s ability to extract results from a squad that many felt was lacking top-tier talent was no small feat.
Now, as Mourinho welcomes United in the Europa League, the irony is hard to miss.
The competition he helped United win seven years ago remains the last European trophy they’ve lifted, a sobering reminder of the club's struggles on the continental stage since his departure.
“I loved it, I loved my time there,” Mourinho recently said of his United days. “I was so proud of going there.”
His comments reflect the fondness he still holds for the club, even if his tenure ended on a sour note.
Ten Hag under pressure
Meanwhile, the pressure is mounting on Erik ten Hag.
The Dutch manager finds himself under constant fire, with his job seemingly at risk every week.
Poor performances, inconsistent form, and locker room unrest have plagued United’s start to the season, leading to questions about Ten Hag’s future.
For many fans, watching Mourinho face United at such a fragile moment adds another layer of drama to an already compelling fixture.
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Familiar faces
In addition to Mourinho, Thursday night will serve as a reunion for two former United players.
Brazilian midfielder Fred, who left United last year in search of a fresh start, has been thriving under Mourinho at Fenerbahce. He arrived at Old Trafford in 2018 and went on to make over 200 appearances across five seasons at the club.
Known for his dynamism and energy in midfield, Fred was a key part of the squad that won the Carabao Cup in 2023.
Another friendly face is Sofyan Amrabat, who was on Manchester United’s books just a few months ago. His final match for United was the FA Cup final last season where they triumphed over bitter rivals Manchester City.
Since then, he has made the switch to Fenerbahce, where he’s quickly become a key figure in Mourinho’s squad. Facing his former club adds another intriguing subplot to this highly anticipated fixture.
The stage is thus set for a Europa League showdown rich in emotion and history. With Mourinho welcoming his old club and United desperately in need of a resurgence under Ten Hag, the match promises to be more than just another fixture.
It is sure to be a battle of past and present, pride and survival, with the weight of history bearing down on both managers.
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