Opinion: Mourinho’s best XI

With Jose Mourinho looking set to take the Manchester United job this
week, he will begin his latest venture at a European super-club.

The Portuguese tactician has already worked with some of the biggest
names in the sport, spending plenty to build star-studded sides with
Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

It’s a struggle to fit them all into one XI, but here’s our best
effort at assembling Mourinho’s dream team, with some scarily talented
players narrowly missing out.

Reports claim Mourinho will get huge amounts of cash to put together
another great side at Old Trafford, but he’ll struggle to work with
players of this elite calibre again.

Defence

In goal, one legend edges another as Petr Cech keeps out Iker
Casillas. Both among the finest of their generation, it’s fair to say
that it is former Chelsea shot-stopper Cech who had a better time under
the Special One, forming a key part of three of his Premier League
title-winning sides.

Although occasionally used in defensive midfield by Mourinho, Javier
Zanetti is also one of the finest right-backs of his generation and
edges the likes of Branislav Ivanovic and Alvaro Arbeloa in our line up.

It’s no contest at left-back as Ashley Cole gets in, having repaid
the big gamble Mourinho made in raiding rivals Arsenal for him in
controversial circumstances. Although the former England man only played
two full seasons under him at Stamford Bridge, he was undoubtedly the
best left-back in the world at the time, and indeed for most of his
career.

Despite some rock-solid performers in his Inter team, we’ve gone for
John Terry as one of the centre-backs, with the Chelsea captain rarely
letting his manager down across two spells. Alongside him is Ricardo
Carvalho, a huge star for Mourinho at Porto, Chelsea and Real Madrid.

Midfield

Midfield has been a particularly strong area for Mourinho’s sides, so
we’ve gone for a diamond formation here to fit in the very best, though
that still leaves no room for the likes of Michael Essien, Cesc
Fabregas and Luka Modric.

Claude Makelele is a must for that position just in front of the back
four, as few in the game have ever played that role better or with such
dedication.

Ahead of the Frenchman, Frank Lampard’s amazing goalscoring record
sees him claim a place. Decent at best before Mourinho took over, the
former England midfielder’s career took off under the Portuguese, and he
truly became one of the best in the world and an all-time Premier
League great.

Alongside him is Wesley Sneijder, whose immense displays made him the
heartbeat of Mourinho’s treble-winning Inter side, even if he rarely
replicated that form outside of his two seasons playing under Jose.

Finally, Mesut Ozil takes the attacking midfield spot, which seems
fair enough as Mourinho called him the best number ten he’d worked with.
Some question his consistency for Arsenal, but he was sensational for
Real Madrid, with Cristiano Ronaldo understandably upset when he was
sold.

Attack

He’s not strictly a striker, but we had to go for Cristiano Ronaldo
for his unbelievable scoring record under Mourinho at Real Madrid. The
Portuguese forward scored an amazing 168 goals in three seasons under
his fellow countryman, playing a major role in helping them to their
only La Liga title during his reign.

Completing the side is Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, who may well
feel he owes Mourinho a great deal for helping him become the player he
is today. Initially slow to settle at Stamford Bridge, the Ivorian took
his game to a whole new level and became one of the great strikers of
his generation, epitomising everything Mourinho looks for in his players
with character, fight and a real appetite for the big games.