Ausilio: Jose Mourinho not replacing Luciano Spalletti at Inter Milan

Inter Milan manager Luciano Spalletti is safe, at least from being replaced by former Inter and Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho … for now.

Club sporting director Piero Ausilio said in an interview that Inter Milan maintains its trust in Spalletti as some speculation around Mourinho making a return to Milan swirl.

Mourinho was fired from Manchester United earlier this season after battling with players and upper management. It was at that time speculation started that Mourinho would be a strong candidate to replace Spalletti.

Ausilio told Sky Sport Italia that Spalletti has nothing to fear in terms of job security for the time being.

“Mourinho? He is not a shadow. It does not surprise me that we talk about him in a time when media and everyone need to say something,” Ausilio said. “We work in a more rational way. Our project has been ongoing for a year-and-a-half with Spalletti and will go on with him for many years.

“[Club owners] Suning [Holdings Group] is ambitious. They want an Inter that returns to winning ways, not one that is content to be second, third or fourth. What we can say to the fans is that we are working hard to get Inter back to winning ways as soon as possible.”

The speculation surrounding Mourinho started to grow after Inter Milan was eliminated from Champions League play and dropped into the Europa League. The Nerazzurri needed to defeat PSV Eindhoven on the last group stage day but only managed a home tie while Tottenham Hotspur salvaged a tie at Barcelona, eliminating Inter from the top-flight competition.

However, a recent run of play has seen Inter move into third place in Serie A behind Napoli and Juventus. Inter has won three of their last four league matches to close out 2018.

Mourinho previously managed Inter Milan from 2008-2010, winning a pair of Serie A titles and the treble — Scudetto, Coppa Italia and Champions League — in the 2009-10 season.

Spalletti is in his second season in charge of the Nerazzurri after finding success at AS Roma. He signed a new contract extension in the summer.

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