Mourinho would have got England to final – Gerrard

Mark Holmes
Steven Gerrard: Would have liked Jose Mourinho in charge of Liverpool or England

Steven Gerrard: Would have liked Jose Mourinho in charge of Liverpool or England

Steven Gerrard would have loved Jose Mourinho at Liverpool and believes the Portuguese could have led England’s Golden Generation to a major final.

Mourinho is currently enduring a difficult time in charge of Chelsea, who have suffered their worst start to a top-flight campaign since 1986, but Gerrard, who was linked with a move to Chelsea in Mourinho’s first tenure at Stamford Bridge, is a huge fan of the 52-year-old.

In his autobiography, which is being serialised by the Daily Mail, the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder wrote: “It was clear that, tactically, he could set up his team to win any football match… because he was a pure winner. But, more than that, he created a special bond with each squad he managed.

“You heard it in the way his players spoke about him. You saw it in the way they played for him.

“For me, the ideal situation would obviously have been for Mourinho to have managed Liverpool. 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.

“The Liverpool fans would have loved him and he would have known exactly how to turn that love into adoration. He always told me about his deep respect for our supporters. Jose would have had a fantastic time bringing huge success to Liverpool.”

Gerrard also believes Mourinho would have got the best out of England’s ‘golden generation’, which suffered quarter-final exits at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups as well as Euro 2004 under Sven-Goran Eriksson.

“If Jose Mourinho had managed England in 2004 and 2006 I’m convinced we could have reached at least one major final,” added the 35-year-old.

“Imagine what he could have got out of a group that included (David) Beckham, (Paul) Scholes, (Michael) Owen, (John) Terry, (Gary) Neville, (Wayne) Rooney, (Sol) Campbell, (Rio) Ferdinand, (Frank) Lampard, (Ashley) Cole, Gerrard and a few others.”