Jose Mourinho has already made a startling admission about Manchester United to confidants after he was installed at the favourite to replace compatriot Ruben Amorim.
United were beaten again in the league on Sunday, losing 2-0 at home to West Ham and falling to 16th - having only accrued 24 points since his arrival.
It's been a completely different story in the Europa League, where United are through to the final after an unbeaten run that has seen them defeat the likes of Lyon, Real Sociedad and Athletic Club.
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Victory over Spurs - and subsequent qualification for next season's Champions League - would gloss over a disastrous domestic campaign for United and ease some pressure on Amorim going into the summer transfer window.
However, one bookmaker has already slashed odds on Mourinho returning to Old Trafford if Amorim is relieved of his duties.
After his sacking from Chelsea, Mourinho took the United job in 2016 and won the Europa League, Carabao Cup and Community Shield as well as finishing second to Manchester City in the 2017/18 season.
He was relieved of his duties in December 2018 and has since managed Spurs, Roma and Fenerbahce, his current club. Betfair have odds of 4-1 for Mourinho to have a second stint at United.
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Disgruntled by refereeing in UEFA competitions, Mourinho said he is looking for his next job to be at a "club at the bottom in England who needs a coach in two years" and United might just fall into the category given their recent demise.
Jose Mourinho has made feelings clear on Man United return
Last year, a report from Samuel Luckhurst in the Manchester Evening News claimed Mourinho would love to manage United again and had told his close circle he would "walk" to Manchester.
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The two-time Champions League is a friend of INEOS chief and United minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe and has gone on record to say that he "loved" his first spell at United, where he had a 58.33% win ratio.
“I loved it, I loved my time there,” Mourinho said, as per talkSPORT.
“I was so proud of going there. I was even prouder when a couple of years later I went back as a Sky commentator with Roy Keane and felt the reaction of the crowd. I was like ‘wow’.
“I always felt like we were together in the time I was there, but to have that reaction touched me. I loved my time there.
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"The club, the history, everything, to be a coach in the same club as Sir Alex, you have to feel it, you have to feel the pride and responsibility and I felt it.”
Mourinho only returned to management with Fenerbahce in the summer and his side are second in the Turkish Super Lig, eight points behind league leaders Galatasaray.
Topics: Manchester United, Jose Mourinho, Ruben Amorim
Josh Lawless