When Jose met Phil... Was Inter boss Mourinho getting the inside track on Manchester United from for

10 March 2009 12:38
How do you beat world, European and English champions Manchester United ? Ask Phil Neville, perhaps. Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho shared a drink with the former United defender at a Manchester hotel last night. The Portuguese listened intently to the 32-year-old Everton captain - the brother of United skipper Gary and a friend of several Old Trafford first-teamers. Was he getting the inside track on Inter's Champions League opponents ahead of the last 16, second leg tie at Old Trafford on Wednesday? Former Chelsea boss Mourinho needs all the help he can get against former sparring partner Sir Alex Ferguson following the goalless draw the San Siro a fortnight ago. Or perhaps the Special One is just looking for a new utility man. Move over Javier Zanetti? Perhaps not. An onlooker said Mourinho and Neville enjoyed a drink together at about 10pm in the Hilton Hotel bar in Manchester. Perhaps Mourinho was trying to get a feel for what it is like to work at United following comments at the weekend which suggested he may be keen on succeeding Ferguson. However, the controversial coach's representative Eladio Parames has played down the suggestion. 'Jose did not give an interview or speak with anyone about Alex Ferguson's job,' Parames told The Sun. 'Jose is a great admirer of and believes will manage Manchester United for many years to come. Jose has a deal with Inter which he plans to honour.'  

Source: Daily_Mail