Samuel Eto’o has sent a warning to his former manager, Jose Mourinho, that he can’t keep defending in football, and the game is evolving.
The Portuguese has struggled to make much of an impact at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils 10 points off the top four. Even though United are in the semifinals of the EFL cup and are close to qualifying for the last 32, they’ve not made much of an impression.
Mourinho’s career has been inconsistent of late, he lifted trophies with Porto, including the UEFA cup and UCL, helped Chelsea to back-to-back league titles, before winning domestic and European treble at Inter Milan. However, he didn’t make much of an impact with Real Madrid, lifting one La Liga in his three seasons at the club.
Mourinho won the EPL in his second stint at Chelsea, only to be sacked in December 2015, after a poor defence to the title.
Now at United, the 53-year-old has the task of returning the Red Devils to the topflight and claiming European qualification.
And Eto’o, who played for Mourinho at Inter and Chelsea, believes the Portuguese is at risk of being left behind if he does not develop his methods.
“Jose has changed a lot,” he told Telefoot. “I discovered someone exceptional when I came to Inter. At Chelsea, it was already a bit difficult.
“He asked for three years to relaunch Manchester United, but you have to get your team playing, you can’t defend continually. Football isn’t like that anymore.
“Let’s be clear: I’ve nothing against Jose. He is able to pick someone, tell him ‘you are the best’ and he’ll have a very good game. But football is evolving.”
United have won just one of their last seven Premier League encounters heading into the game at Goodison Park.
