Jose Mourinho says he has rejected three job offers since his Man Utd sacking

Former United boss also claims that a player asked him to stop criticising him publicly

By Sky Sports News

Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho talks about the possibility of returning to football and defends his style of play.

Jose Mourinho has revealed he has already turned down three job opportunities since he was sacked by Manchester United in December.

Mourinho was was let go by United after they made their worst start to a league season in 29 years.

Since his departure, United have won seven games in a row under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

"I am happy with these three weeks, I am happy with this experience and I am going to have other experiences that normally I cannot have," Mourinho told BeIN SPORTS.

"But I know me, and I know by the end of March I will be struggling with my happiness.

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"I will analyse things. I refuse already three options because I didn't feel it is what I want. I am going to be calm. The more time I have, the better I can prepare. The next must be something that makes me happy with a challenge."

Image: Mourinho was sacked by United on December 18 after their worst start in the league for 29 years

Mourinho insisted Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp were afforded more luxuries than him in the Premier League.

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Mourinho highlighted the support the pair have received in the transfer market since taking over at Manchester City and Liverpool respectively.

"For me it is more complicated as a manager as I don't focus on the football itself, I have to focus also in what is to prepare the future," Mourinho said.

Image: Mourinho says Guardiola and Klopp were allowed numerous transfers to overhaul the squads they inherited

"I think the future starts to be prepared with principles. That is more important than the football you watch and comment on. It is more important the culture you bring to the club, the principles, so it is a bit more complex.

"But you have the case of Manchester City. In the first season, Guardiola was not a champion, it was really difficult and people were expecting a winning Manchester City.

"They were coming already from winning period, champions with (Roberto) Mancini and (Manuel) Pellegrini. Some of the players were already champions twice, (Sergio) Aguero and (Vincent) Kompany, and in the first to the second season Pep made great decisions, but great decisions that were supported.

Manchester United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Jose Mourinho will have plenty of offers when he chooses to return

"For example, he didn't want (Pablo) Zabaleta or (Bacary) Sagna, two right-backs, and he didn't want (Aleksander) Kolarov or (Gael) Clichy. In the same summer he sold four full-backs and got four full-backs. He got (Kyle) Walker, Danilo, (Benjamin) Mendy and another. He was supported.

"In Liverpool, I think how many players were in Liverpool before Jurgen arrived? No Alisson (Becker), no (Virgil) Van Dijk, no (Andrew) Robertson, no (Mohamed) Salah, no (Roberto) Firmino, no (Sadio) Mane, no Fabinho, no (Georginio) Wijnaldum, no (Naby) Keita, so this is work in depth.

"So when I speak about leadership related to the structure of the club, it is not just leadership, it is everything, even the football ideas.

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"If you are manager (and) you have in your hands the possibility to choose the players you want to follow your football idea, or to follow the idea that you think is the best to win a certain competition, that is one thing. Another thing is if you are (not) able to do this."

Mourinho also believes the mentality of players is changing and says one of his players asked him to stop criticising him publicly.

"I had recently one of my players, I was just coaching them, and when I coach on the pitch I like to see myself free because I am in family and I want to be able to criticise everyone," he added.

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer admits players must be treated differently in the modern game, but he rejects the idea they are 'too powerful'

"I had one player say, he was very polite and not confrontational, 'Please when you criticise me, can you do it in private?'. I said why and he said, 'Because it's my stature in front of the other players, when you criticise me I don't feel comfortable'.

"He was one of the top players of his generation. Nowadays you have to be very smart in the way you read your players and their personalities."

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