Mourinho backs Liverpool over Manchester United in greatest English club debate

José Mourinho has declared Liverpool the greatest club in England, placing them above Manchester United — the club that sacked him in 2018 — in a debate that cuts to the heart of one of football’s most bitter rivalries.

Speaking ahead of his return to Real Madrid for a second managerial spell, Mourinho said: “Both clubs are incredible, with great history in football. But for me, Liverpool has to be the best club in England, for their history and culture into the Premier League, for the past and present years. What Liverpool has done in football compared with Manchester United is beyond a level of what people think. When we talk about trophies in general, and trophies in the last 10 years.”

The numbers offer some context for his position. Liverpool and United share the English league title record with 20 apiece, but Liverpool lead on overall major trophies — 69 to United’s 68 — and hold a commanding edge in European Cups, having lifted the trophy six times to United’s three.

Mourinho’s admiration for Liverpool is longstanding. After the Reds overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit to beat Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield in the 2019 Champions League semi-final, he was effusive in his praise of then-manager Jürgen Klopp. “This remontada has one name — Jurgen,” he said at the time. “This is not about tactics, this is not about philosophy, this is about heart and soul, and a fantastic empathy he created with this group of players.”

That respect was not lost on Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, who addressed it in his autobiography. “For me, the ideal situation would obviously have been for Mourinho to have managed Liverpool,” Gerrard wrote. “He was linked with a move to Anfield a couple of times but it never materialised. I know I’m biased, but I think it would have been a perfect match. He always told me about his deep respect for our supporters.”

Mourinho managed Chelsea, United and Tottenham across his Premier League career but was never appointed at Anfield, despite the reported interest on both sides. His latest comments are unlikely to endear him further to United supporters, though they will come as little surprise to those who have followed his career closely.