Perfect fit or disaster waiting to happen? Henry and Carragher clash over Mourinho to Man United

Updated 21/12/2015 at 20:33 GMT

Thierry Henry gave recently-fired Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho his backing should the Portuguese boss be parachuted in to replace Louis van Gaal at Manchester United - but Jamie Carragher was far from convinced.

Jose Mourinho celebrates with his medal after winning the Premier League

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Van Gaal's unpopular style of play, friction with his players and vilification by fans have combined to make him the bookies' favourite to be the next manager to get fired, following Mourinho's axing by the Blues last week.

And Mourinho, who was widely touted as a possible replacement at Old Trafford when Alex Ferguson retired, is reportedly being lined up as the new manager - and Gunners legend Henry is a fan of the idea.

Speaking on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, Henry said that he believed Mourinho, "can be the perfect fit" for United, citing several of Mourinho's teams that have managed to combine his trademark defensive organisation with an exciting attacking set-up.

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Mourinho Chelsea 2004

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"In his time at the beginning at Chelsea, if you remember, with Robben and Duff on the sides, and Gudjohnsen in the middle, then Didier Drogba arriving after, they were a good team going forward. They weren't conceding goals, they were hitting you on the break, but they were kind of exciting going forward.

"He also won the league in Spain outscoring Barcelona - the Barcelona of Guardiola. So I think that he can be a good fit."

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Carragher, however, disagreed vehemently, saying that while he would probably bring success he - like Van Gaal - would operate in a manner that is anathema to the club.

"If I think of Man United in the past 50 or 60 years of what they’re about, winning trophies, Jose massively ticks that box," he said.

"But bringing through young players? No.

"Playing exciting football, cultured football, going for every game? He doesn’t tick that box either."

Jose Mourinho pulling up the collar on his coat

Image credit: AFP

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Carragher went further suggesting that the only reason Mourinho would even be considered is because of Manchester City's potential hopes of bringing in Pep Guardiola, the Bayern Munich manager, who recently confirmed that he will leave the Bundesliga at the end of the season.

"If [Mourinho's] someone that they go for, I think it will show the fear the Man United board have, maybe even some of the supporters who are chanting for him, of other teams getting away from them," he said.

“The fact Pep Guardiola may be going to Man City, they’re thinking, ‘we’re actually falling behind.’ So they’re actually going to forget some of the principles that made the club what they are for the last 50-60 years - and they’re that desperate to get back to winning trophies."