Shanghai: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes that Sam Allardyce is the best person to coach the England national team but must be given the right support. Currently the manager of English Premier League club Sunderland, Allardyce is set to be ratified as a successor to Roy Hodgson on Thursday and Mourinho is convinced he can deliver.
“Well, it is your country and I think you are a complicated country for the person that gets the job. I think he’s the right person for that, yes. I think he is a good choice but I think he needs support and I think you can do better in respect to that because my experience in your country shows me you, the football world, could do a bit better,” Mourinho was quoted as saying by Sky Sports on Thursday.
“I think Sam never had the big chance at the highest level — lots of experience in the Premier League but never that big one And now he has the big one, so I think he is more than ready. I think he is a good motivator, I think he can create a good team spirit with his players and I wish him the best.”
Two-and-a-half years ago, Mourinho criticised Allardyce’s West Ham United side for playing “19th century football” when frustrating Chelsea, but the new United boss believes the Football Association has made a wise choice.
“From my side, not just as a friend but my side as Man United manager, the only thing I can promise is that I am going to try to support him the best way, prepare the players for him, try to have the English players always available in a good condition to help him,” he remarked.
“I hope you can do the same because it’s your time. In Portugal we were waiting and waiting and finally we got it (at Euro 2016). I think it is time for you because ’66 (when England won their one and only major international trophy) was a long time ago, so good luck Big Sam,” the former Real Madrid and Chelsea manager added.
