Jamie Carragher Talks Jose Mourinho, Manchester United and Pep Guardiola Rumours

Jamie Carragher insists Manchester United would be making themselves appear "desperate" to their rivals if they were to sack Louis van Gaal and hire Jose Mourinho following his departure from the Chelsea helm.

The Sky Sports pundit said on Monday Night Football that appointing Mourinho would be a knee-jerk response to their competition, with Pep Guardiola set to leave Bayern Munich next summer (h/t Daily Mail's Rohan Banerjee):

"There'll be that thought of Pep Guardiola maybe going to Manchester City and they'll be thinking we're actually falling behind. They'll forget some of the principles that have made the club over the last 50 or 60 years, and they're just that desperate to get to back winning trophies."

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The Red Devils are in a state of freefall after going their last six games without a win and losing their last three in succession under Van Gaal, who is encountering harsher criticism than ever at Old Trafford.

United sit fifth in the Premier League standings, nine points behind leaders Leicester City, and Sky Sports expert Guillem Balague revealed on Monday that Van Gaal has resigned under dour circumstances before:

There's a crushing pressure at Old Trafford for things to improve quickly. Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to Norwich City was a new low for many supporters, and change often feels like the quickest way to bring about those improvements.

However, Carragher went on to outline why he feels Mourinho would be a poor appointment for United, one who doesn't fit in with the club's ideals and ethos:

"

Is Jose the perfect fit for Manchester United? I'd say no. And the reason being, if I imagine Manchester United as what they've been over the last 50 or 60 years and what they've been about...winning trophies, Jose massively ticks that box; but bringing young players through? No.

Playing exciting, cut throat football, going for every game? He doesn't tick that box either. If that is someone that they go for, I think that'll show the fear Manchester United's board have of other teams getting away from them.

"

The ex-Liverpool defender could be correct in his assertions, but Mourinho's winning record as a manger speaks for itself—and it appears that even the last four disastrous months at Stamford Bridge can't tarnish his reputation entirely.

Fellow Sky Sports pundit Thierry Henry disagreed with Carragher and proclaimed the Portuguese would be a positive appointment if Van Gaal were to be axed:

Specifically, Henry believes Mourinho has the potential to turn United into an exciting, attractive team to watch once again, per the Daily Star's Joshua Evans:

"

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 [Pep] Guardiola. So I think that he can be a good fit.

"

According to the Irish Independent's Mark Ogden, United have "been given a private indication" of Mourinho's interest in taking over at United, while Van Gaal's time may be running short.

The Mirror's Lars Sivertsen pointed out that Mourinho could, of course, turn down the opportunity, but he added that eventuality appears unlikely:

It does seem too fate-like that Mourinho's exit from Stamford Bridge and the culmination of this season's woes fall in line with Van Gaal's toughest period as Manchester United's manager.

Mourinho's arrival may appear like a match made in heaven to some, but Carragher has found substantial holes in the argument and feels United may be better off keeping their faith in Van Gaal.