The Mirror reflects their desire for Mourinho

Has any manager captured the media's attention as undividedly as Jose Mourinho? For all the press conferences in which Rafa Benitez underlines his misgivings about Meester Fergooson, for every philosophical musing from Arsene Wenger, the press have always been more smitten by the Portuguese's sense of theatre and propensity for a soundbite. When Mourinho left Chelsea, a well of subject matter seemed to dry up for journalists too. Whenever something happened to Chelsea, however, you could be sure that Mourinho's words would cast some light on the situation, whether it was to threaten to 'kill' Chelsea when he next took a side to Stamford Bridge, explain that recently-sacked Avram Grant was a 'loser', or hinting at a comeback to managing in England, which has been an evergreen theme through the last 18 months.

No more European nights at the San Siro for Mourinho? Doubt it - Photo Jamiejohndavies

Mourinho joined Inter Milan and has led the team to the top of Serie A, where they enjoy a seven point lead at the top. They also have an intriguingly-poised Champions League tie against Manchester United on Wednesday night. No surprise, then, that the Sunday Mirror think that Mourinho's promising few months at Inter are nearing an end:

Jose Mourinho is on the brink of losing his job at Inter Milan.

The Special One is facing a makeor-break clash against Manchester United in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Mourinho is under enormous pressure to deliver the Champions League crown this season. Inter president Massimo Moratti fired Roberto Mancini after he landed three consecutive Serie A titles and cited underachievement in Europe as the reason.

Inter are currently well clear at the top of Serie A, but despite that Mourinho's relationship with Moratti and the Inter fans is increasingly strained.

Mourinho could walk straight into another job as it emerged last night that he is on a three-man short-list for the Real Madrid job with Liverpool's Rafa Benitez and Arsenal's Arsene Wenger.

Make-or-break? How many make-or-break games has he been through for Inter so far? Surely this would be the first – and even Scolari was allowed four defeats before being sacked after his fifth by Chelsea. Defeat by the team widely regarded as Europe's strongest at present seems unlikely to put Mourinho on the brink, on the grounds that he's clearly doing his job effectively.

When the Mirror suggests that the reason for Mancini's dismissal was cited as underachievement in Europe, it must be a typographical error, since the reason was cited as Mancini's mixed messages following an announcement of his plan to quit on March 11 2008, which he then took back the following day. The relevant comment is here in Australian news outlet SBS:

The statement on www.inter.it read: "FC Internazionale have communicated to Mr Mancini his dismissal from the position of first-team coach, particularly because of the declarations made by the coach after the Inter-Liverpool match on March 11, (because) of what has followed, and furthermore the facts which recently emerged in the newspaper stories."

Doubtless European success was important, but it is fair to say that Mancini had to an appreciable extent dug his own grave.

And the revelation that Mourinho is on a three-man shortlist for the Real Madrid job (two man really since Arsene Wenger is on the list and he won't be going to Real)? Huge. Less huge given that he's also been linked by the Mirror to Manchester United on March 8, to staying at Inter on March 7, to going to Liverpool on February 27, and even on a shortlist of possible replacements for Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea on February 10.

The Mirror does not seem to have the inside track on Mourinho's future. If only they'd caught wind of chairman Massimo Moratti's most recent words on his manager, made as the club cemented ties with Krylya Sovetov, and reported in Russian paper Sport-Express. Only some of it is reported in their article online, but here are his words according to Setanta:

“We are very satisfied with Mourinho’s work with us,” he told Sport Express.

“When I discovered that there was an opportunity to get him, we just went for it, and he was very happy to accept.

“When he signed the deal, both parties were extremely satisfied, and we both still feel the same.”

Asked how long Inter hoped to hold onto Mourinho, Moratti said: “It’s not important.

“What is important is that, for as long as he works for us, he delivers trophies every year.”

“Of course, for us it would be extremely important to win the Champions League,” he said. “The tournament is significantly different from the league in that a single game has so much more importance.

“In the league, it is spread over a longer period of time, so the result is less dependent on the mood and state of the team on any particular day.

“Luck is a much less important factor in the league, but that takes nothing away from the Champions League or our desire to win it.”

Doesn't sound like Mourinho is a man on the brink – sounds like he'll be there as long as he's winning trophies, like he's in prime position to do with the league. Don't let that spoil the rumours though. 'Mourinho doing a good job at Inter, unlikely to move on any time soon' – less interesting, more accurate headline.

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