If there is a story that encapsulates Mourinho’s time at United, it comes from the club’s 2018 pre-season tour of the United States.
Among the commercial opportunities on the trip was a “training session” at the impressive UCLA campus in Los Angeles with then Late, Late Show host James Corden.
The event involved scores of local children, coached by Corden, playing against United trio Juan Mata, Chris Smalling and Ander Herrera, led by Mourinho.
Filming was set for early morning, before the scheduled team training session.
Despite an early start following a day off after Mourinho inserted the event into the tour schedule at short notice, the players expressed their willingness to fulfil the commitment.
But at the time of departure, Mourinho was nowhere to be seen. He had gone ahead, the travelling party were told. Upon arrival, security advised that Mourinho was in the dressing room and not in a good mood.
Despite some of those involved being at the venue since the early hours, Mourinho’s involvement, it was being stressed, was very much in the balance.
Watching footage of the event now, none of this is evident. Mourinho did get involved, enjoyed himself and, more to the point, made sure the youngsters had a memory to treasure, external for the rest of their lives.
Speaking to numerous sources about Mourinho’s time at Old Trafford, the contradiction between dark moods and charm, sometimes swapping within seconds, is repeated by them all.
