Jose Mourinho has responded to his fellow Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim being linked with West Ham and Chelsea.
The Ruben Amorim saga took a bizarre twist yesterday involving West Ham and London rivals Chelsea.
Speculation has been rife that both West Ham and Chelsea could be looking for new managers soon.
More so in east London where David Moyes is now widely expected to depart when his contract expires this summer.
But there has also been a steady stream of rumours Mauricio Pochettino may follow Moyes in the unemployment line in a few weeks.
Last week West Ham fans were buzzing as Sporting boss Amorim was pictured boarding a plane for London where he is said to have had talks with majority owner David Sullivan.
Despite claims those talks ‘did not go well’, Hammers fans remain hopeful he could yet become Moyes’ successor.
Particularly after Amorim offered no guarantees over his future when he held an apologetic press conference on Saturday. In that conference he simply admitted the timing of his meeting with West Ham was regrettable rather than the talks themselves.
Hammers hopes were raised further yesterday when a Sky Sports journalist made an exciting new claim about West Ham and Amorim.
West Ham and Chelsea linked with Amorim
On the same day, though, Chelsea were forced to deny strange claims they had paid for Amorim’s flight to meet with West Ham. The initial inference being that the Blues wanted to hold secret talks with the 39-year-old about replacing Pochettino.
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In Portugal there was outrage at the prospect of Amorim joining West Ham.
The feeling was that the Hammers are an inferior club and he should only leave for an elite side. Especially given Sporting will be in the Champions League next season.
Others, though, felt it would be a sensible first step into a major European league for Amorim and his unique way of playing.
Whereas there would be more pressure to get results instantly at a club like Chelsea.
Well now one man who knows the Premier League and Chelsea well has had his say.
Mourinho responds to Amorim links
Jose Mourinho has responded to Amorim being linked with West Ham and Chelsea.
Ironically Mourinho has also been linked with the West Ham job. And there has even been some talk of a third stint at Stamford Bridge.
Amorim faces a big decision over his future this summer with talk he is desperate to land a Premier League job.
If that is the case then West Ham and Chelsea may be the only gigs in town after Liverpool slammed the door on him by moving for Arne Slot.
Other potential suitors Barcelona and Bayern Munich have also been ruled out with Xavi staying on at the Camp Nou and Ralf Rangnick set to take over the Germans.
Whatever level of club Amorim decides to join, though, Mourinho says he will be up to the task.
‘He’ll succeed at any club in any league’
Mourinho told A Bola that Amorim has the ability to succeed at any club in any league.
“I like him as a person and coach,” Mourinho said when asked about Amorim and the links to West Ham and Chelsea.
“I think he has the conditions to be able to train in any league and club.
“But he’s in a good league and a big club.
“The decision is up to him and the clubs whether or not they want him. What is clear is that I like the person and the coach.”
Out of work Mourinho was interviewed about his future last week.
And the journalist conducting the sit-down for a national newspaper suggested he would be up for managing West Ham next season.
The problem is, a source very close to Hammers chief Sullivan has said that is completely out of the question.
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