Jose draws first blood in the battle for the Old Trafford throne

Mourinho left Pep in the shade last night

The battle lines had been draw way back in March when the draw for the Champions League quarter and semi finals were made, all Barcelona and Inter Milan had to do was make it past Arsenal and CSKA Moscow respectively and two of Europe’s strongest teams would go had to head.

But at the start of the week the game took an a different spin for the managers of each team as the tie in effect became an audition for the position of manager at Old Trafford.

If the papers are to be believed (lets face it, its a 50/50 toss up) then both Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola are the front runners for the Old Trafford hot seat and in the first of the two legs it was Mourinho who came out on top.

Pedro put Barca in the lead but goals from Sneijder, Eto’o and Milito gives Inter the advantage when the two teams face off again next week.

Mourinho has been linked with the United job before and the fact he has openly expressed how much he enjoyed his time in England makes his appointment more likely. Previously Mourinho was brash and controversial but as he has aged and the brown hair has greyed, Mourinho’s temperament has cooled. He has mellowed and this was evident in United’s ties with Inter last season where Mourinho was more than gracious in defeat and had nothing but praise for United and Ferguson.

Fergie too is a fan of Jose and having put so much of his time and effort into the club it is thought that Mourinho is one a few managers he would feel comfortable handing over the reigns to.

Guardiola has done a magnificent job at Barcelona and we experienced first hand what a team under him can do in last season’s Champions League final, when we were out played and beaten 2-0. William Hill have slashed the odds on him taking over dramatically but I just feel that is an exercise to stir up the market and the smart money is on Jose.

The same papers that have Mourinho and Guardiola in line for the managerial seat in the home dugout also claim Sir Alex will step down at the end of next season and the way Mourinho set out Inter against Barca will have done him no harm when it comes to deciding who will succeed Sir Alex.