Where should Mourinho go from here?

A Guardian report mulls over the possibility of Jose Mourinho returning to Chelsea after the end of this season, where he “is expected to leave Internazionale after a year in Italy, most likely with a Serie A title to his name but having failed to his primary objective of bring the European Cup to San Siro following elimination at the hands of Manchester United.”

The report said that the charismatic manager is still warmly regarded by Chelsea’s senior players, and the man himself have spoken publicly about his love for the London club and his desire to return one day.

However, just a week ago he also left open the possibility of managing rivals Manchester United when Sir Alex Ferguson eventually retires.

“Who can say no? Nobody could say ‘no’,” he said then. “Manchester United belongs to a small group of clubs around the world where nobody can say ‘no’.”

His possible exit from Inter may attract the interests of cash-rich Manchester City and Real Madrid, or he may even just stay on at the San Siro to make amends for the Champions League exit this season.

But where would be the best destination for the Special One, should he leave the Italian club this season?

Question of the Weekend (How to beat United?)

THE POSTMAN’S QUESTION OF THE WEEKEND: WHAT strategies can Jose Mourinho use with his Inter Milan team so that they can beat Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Champions League next week?

Will United suffer a similar slump as Barca?

MANCHESTER United head into a crucial 11-day period which could very well define their quintuple dreams this season, starting with tomorrow morning’s Premiership game against Newcastle.

The English and European champions then face Fulham in the FA Cup, and Inter Milan next week at Old Trafford for the second-leg Champions League knockout round game before hosting Liverpool in a game that could prove vital to United’s Premiership title dreams this season.

Sir Alex Ferguson could not have chosen a better time to sound off a warning to his charges, especially the young ones such as Rafael and Danny Welbeck that complacency would be costly and would not be tolerated in his dressing room.

The Scot pointed to Barcelona’s recent slump in the La Liga after an impressive first half of the season, which led the league by 11 points at the start of the year. That lead is now cut to just four points, no thanks to their recent erratic form, which includes the latest 4-3 loss to Atletico Madrid.

The question now is: with United still challenging on three fronts – the Premiership, the FA Cup and the Champions League – will they crack or start to get complacent, as they once did in 1998, where they threw away a 12-point lead to hand Arsenal the Premiership crown?

Are the English clubs heading for a slaughter tomorrow morning?

CHAMPIONS League action returns tomorrow morning (Singapore time), as Italian clubs Inter Milan and Roma face off against English clubs Manchester United and Arsenal.

While English football seem to be on the ascent, with three of last season’s Champions League semi-finalists hailing from England, tomorrow’s fixtures could prove tricky for both United and Arsenal.

United’s defence is decimated by injuries – with Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra the only fully fit and eligible defenders available. With Anderson still out through injury, United could be forced to draft Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher into defence, or rush John O’Shea and Jonny Evans back from injury.

On the other hand, Inter are riding high on top of the Serie A table, with Jose Mourinho managing to bring the best out of Adriano, who seemed to be on his way out of the club earlier this season. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is reaching the peak of his career, while Mourinho has an excellent track record against Alex Ferguson, winning five of their 10 Premiership encounters when he was at Chelsea.

In the other “Italy v England” game, Arsenal’s midfield is decimated by long-term injuries. Cesc Fabregas, Eduardo, Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott are all out, while Andrei Arshavin is cup-tied, leaving a shaky midfield core of Denilson and Alexandre Song. That, and the fact that Arsenal’s goals have dried up of late, is hardly comforting for any fans of the London club.

Roma will probably play their usual 4-6-0 formation, choking the midfield while constantly rotating the targetman, with Francesco Totti pulling the strings.

Will the English clubs survive the Italian onslaught tomorrow morning? I hope not, but I am not holding my breath on that.

Who will partner Rio on Wednesday?

DEFENDING European champions Manchester United travel to the San Siro this Wednesday morning (Singapore time) with just one fit centreback eligible to face Inter Milan, after Jonny Evans limped out in the second half against Blackburn.

Nemanja Vidic is suspended, following his red card at the World Club Cup last December, while club captain Gary Neville is still suffering from a virus and a strained leg. Wes Brown is also out, after breaking his metatarsal in training earlier this month.

John O’Shea is still doubtful, and the United medical staff are working overtime to get the Irishman’s heel in shape for the Inter game.

If that does not fall through, any one of these senior United players should get the job of partnering Rio Ferdinand in defence – Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and the young Rafael.

Who would it be?

THE POSTMAN LIM SAY HENG says: My pick would be Fletcher, if the rest don’t come through by Tuesday. The Scot has faced much criticism for his inconsistent performances over the past few seasons, but the 25-year-old has come through for United this season, shining in the early parts of the season where the champions were struggling to find their feet.

Should Wenger get rid of Adebayor after this season?

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger may be ready to get rid of chief striker Emmanuel Adebayor in the close season, according to a Daily Star report.

The “Professor” is said to getting increasingly disillusioned with the Togo striker this season, after blocking Barcelona’s bid last season. The Catalan club is reportedly set to launch another bid at the end of the current season in a bid to replace Samuel Eto’o, who could be on the way to Inter Milan.

Should Wenger let Adebayor go and refresh his strike-force, possibly with Real Madrid’s Klaas-Jan Huntelaar?

Was Mourinho aiming at Benitez or Ferguson?

THE ‘SPECIAL’ One has caused ripples in the Premiership by claiming that he sees himself in the Chelsea hotseat again, while not specifying when he could make a return to Stamford Bridge.

Along with the claim, the Inter coach also talked about his penchant for risk-taking, which he feels is a quality that not many Premiership managers share.

He said:”Some managers have a big excuse when they go to a big club. They say ‘I need a lot of time to do it’. If you say this, you get protection.

“If you don’t win the title in the first season, or second season, you can keep saying ‘I need time’. Sometimes you stay for four or five years, keep not winning, and then keep demanding more time.

“I could never be like this. I live for the risk. I believe you can do it in the first season, and if you do not, you fail. I prefer it like this. I prefer the pressure because that’s how I live.”

THE POSTMAN LIM SAY HENG says: While such self-affirming words would not come as a surprise, read between the lines and one may sense that he is actually having a dig at Sir Alex Ferguson or Rafa Benitez, who does not share a good relationship with the Portuguese.

Is Inter the best club for Tevez?

ARGENTINA legend and national coach Maradona has advised Manchester United’s Carlos Tevez to move on to save his international career, specifically to Inter Milan where former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has taken charge.

THE POSTMAN LIM SAY HENG says: It seems increasingly likely that Tevez may move on from Old Trafford, even though he is a fans’ favourite. But if he does move, is Inter the right club for the young Argentinian?

The good news is, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the only “untouchable” in a front-line that sometimes goes up to three strikers. Adriano, the Swede’s usual strike partner, could be on his way out following speculation of a bust-up with Mourinho earlier this season.

And with Hernan Crespo and Julio Cruz already reaching his mid-30s, and Mario Barotelli and Victor Nsofor Obinna barely out of their teens, Tevez could be the perfect blend of youth and experience that Mourinho can use up front.

Weekend Question (Drogba: Going, going, gone?)

THE spotlight is on Chelsea again, as star striker Didier Drogba announced that he will make a decision on his club future by 26 Jul.

He had previously launched a scathing attack on the way that the Blues handled Jose Mourinho’s departure and made known his desire to leave the club after that.

Barcelona, AC Milan and Inter Milan are said to be interested in signing him, but the Ivory Coast hitman could yet sign a two-year extension to his current contract.

So here’s The Postman’s Weekend Question:

Do you think Didier Drogba will finally up and leave Chelsea, or will he stay and be part of Scolari’s new-look Chelsea, and why?

Tell us, in not more than 200 words, by clicking on “comments” below the headline.

Cheers,

Lim Say Heng

The Postman

The New Paper

Weekend Question (Should Frank stay or go?)

CALL it deja vu in blue. While the whole world is fixated on Ronaldo’s transfer tango, Chelsea has been grappling with Inter Milan to keep vice-captain Frank Lampard.

Lampard is tempted to join former boss Jose Mourinho at the Italian club, but history has shown that Englishmen who succeed in the Serie A are few and far between, even if you are Ian Rush. Staying blue would be stiffer competition for a midfield slot, with Deco’s arrival and the club’s courtship of Kaka.

So here’s The Postman’s Weekend Question:

Should Frank Lampard stay at Chelsea, where his place in the starting lineup is no longer guaranteed, or should he risk it all and move to Mourinho’s Inter?