The Champions League draw has turned the competition into a Man United job audition

By Simon Mullock

Published 13:49 19/03/10

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Two of the men being touted as successors to Sir Alex Ferguson could go head-to-head with the Manchester United boss in the latter stages of the Champions League thanks to the quarter-final draw.

Jose Mourinho has been staking his claim for the United hot-seat ever since he departed Chelsea in such bitter circumstances two years ago.

And the way he knocked his old club out of Europe’s top competition in such style in midweek will not have gone unnoticed in the corridors of power at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese’s arrogance and panache would be perfect for United – but some inside the club’s hierarchy remain unconvinced that his teams do not play with the swashbuckling style that has been the Reds’ trademark down the years.

The way the draw panned out today means that it could be a Fergie v Mourinho final in Madrid.

There’s still lots of ifs and buts, of course, and Arsenal and current European champions Barcelona will believe the winner of their intriguing tie will be able to succeed against Inter Milan where Chelsea failed should the Italians overcome CSKA Moscow in their quarter-final.

United are pitted against Bayern Munich, evoking memories of 1999.

But after watching the Germans struggle to overcome Fiorentina after limping through the group stages, United will be overwhelming favourites to progress.

That would bring a semi-final against either Bordeaux or Lyon – and if the current French champions defeat the team they have deposed as top dogs in Ligue One that would bring Ferguson face-to-face with Laurent Blanc.

Blanc has emerged as the man that many United fans believe would be the perfect successor to the most successful manager in the club’s history.

The Frenchman enjoyed two seasons as a player under Ferguson – during which time he picked the Scot’s brains about the key to successful management.

Blanc has since put those lessons into practice in his first coaching job at Bordeaux.

He guided les Girondins to runners-up spot behind Lyon in his first season, before deposing the club that had been champions for a record seventh successive season last year.

Bordeaux are top of the table again this year – and topped a Champions League group that included Bayern and Juventus.

The Champions League provides the perfect stage for both Mourinho and Blanc to audition for one of the biggest jobs in football.

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