Jose Mourinho wants Premier League winners medal for his 2017-18 Manchester United team if City are stripped of titles in the future which could see the Red Devils awarded the EPL crown instead. The Portuguese tactician, who was a three-time Premier League winner with Chelsea and now coaches Fenerbahce, took United to second behind City that year with a 19-point deficit.
Pep Guardiola's side, four-time consecutive EPL kings, were referred to an independent commission in February of 2023 regarding charges from 2009-2018 to which they have denied wrongdoing. If City are eventually found guilty of those charges, they could be stripped of titles, deducted points, hit with penalties and substantially fined.
"We won the Europa League and finished second in the Premier League," said Mourinho ahead of United's UEFA Europa League clash with Fenerbahce. "I think we still have a chance to win that league. Maybe they punish City with points (deductions) and maybe we win that league. They have to pay me the bonus and give me the medal."
Until Mourinho that year, Sir Alex Ferguson's 2012-13 triumph was the last time a manager took United even close to winning a Premier League title. The former Inter, Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur and AS Roma man was sacked in late 2018 after a poor run of results. Ferguson is recognized as United's most successful manager and is leaving his role as the club's global ambassador after co-owners INEOS terminated his lucrative contract.
"The ambassadorial role... I don't know in depth the situation," said Mourinho of the 82-year-old. "It doesn't matter why, what (happened). Sir Alex has the most important thing, which is the love and respect of every Man United fan around the world. That is more important than an ambassadorial role, it is more important than a few pounds that he can make that he doesn't need."
Mourinho is already under pressure in Turkiye with Fenerbahce fourth in the Super Lig table and eight points behind leaders Galatasaray with a game in hand. The Turkish giants are in the Europa League because they were eliminated in the qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League by Lille OSC.
