Be afraid. Be very afraid!

THE news that Jose Mourinho is heading back to the Premier League will have every top manager bricking himself.
No one is safe now the Special One is fishing for another job.

Rafa Benitez will look the most vulnerable with Liverpool in danger of missing Champions League qualification and everyone at the club wondering how much further the manager can take them.

But can you honestly tell me Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and even Manchester City would not be tempted by the chance to get Mourinho this summer?

I believe Chelsea made a big mistake when they booted Jose out of Stamford Bridge two years ago.

He could have become the Alex Ferguson of London, creating his very own dynasty at the club and winning trophies year after year.

But the egos of Mourinho and Roman Abramovich got in the way and Chelsea have been paying the price ever since.

Now United could be one of the clubs that capitalise on that mistake by appointing Jose as Alex Ferguson's Old Trafford successor.

What a sensational move that would be.

It would be just like Don Corleone handing over the family business to Michael.

To be honest, I can't see it happening. For one simple reason.

Because even if Fergie did call it a day at the end of the season, he won't just walk away from United. I'm sure he will move upstairs in some sort of advisory capacity and oversee the transition of power.

And there's no way Mourinho would tolerate that arrangement. He wasn't having it at Chelsea and wherever he goes next will have to promise him total control.

I expect United to look for someone straight out of the Ferguson mould for their next boss. And that's probably not Mourinho.

Jose is a totally different character to Sir Alex. He's suave, confident, extrovert, good-looking, egotistical, confrontational and constantly courting controversy. Yes, he's got his flaws. But you show me a top, top sportsman who hasn't.

Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer of all time but look at the baggage he's been carrying for years.

Jose is not my favourite person in the world and when anyone describes themselves as the Special One it is going to put a few noses out of joint.

But I would have loved to have been in his team because he is a winner and you can see his players are ready to die for him. He reminds me so much of my former Arsenal boss George Graham, another who would do anything to win and knew how to get the best from his players.

Guys like Tony Adams, Dave Seaman and Nigel Winterburn adored George and could do no wrong in the boss' eyes.

My relationship was totally different. I felt like the unloved child, the kid who was constantly trying to win his father's approval.

Jose had the same arrangement at Chelsea.

John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien were the favoured four and his greatest allies. Everyone else had to prove themselves on a daily basis.

People say his tactics would not work at Arsenal, that they would never accept his win-at-all costs approach after 13 years of glorious football under Arsene Wenger.

But I promise you there are plenty of Emirates supporters who would settle for a little less entertainment if you could guarantee them a couple of Premier League titles and maybe the Champions League.

And don't rule out the idea of Mourinho pitching up at Manchester City at some stage, even though it's less than a fortnight since they appointed Roberto Mancini.

I really do hope Mancini makes a success of it at Eastlands.

But having Mourinho in any manager's office would make every person in football take that club more seriously.

His mere presence would be proof of their ambition and make them a much more attractive proposition to top players like Kaka, Terry and Drogba.

Wherever Mourinho finally ends up, I cannot wait to welcome him back to England.

NEVER expected Arsenal to be so close in this year's title race - but the opportunity is definitely there to end their five-year drought.


So it's crucial that Arsene Wenger does not take any more gambles with the fitness of his skipper Cesc Fabregas. If there is one player the Gunners cannot live without for more than a couple of weeks, it is their Spanish midfield ace.


Cesc proved his value to the team with that incredible 27-minute cameo to destroy Aston Villa the other day.


But he aggravated his hamstring injury in the process and if that becomes a major issue then Arsenal might struggle to maintain a Championship challenge.

Tonight's trip to Portsmouth is the perfect opportunity for young Aaron Ramsey to prove he can cut it in the middle.


Chelsea and Manchester United have been able to drop points and still stay involved.