“It’s good for them [the coaches],” said Jose, of the pre-season period. “I knew them all, for different reasons, in different circumstances. Rapetti was my assistant at Inter Milan for two seasons [2009-2011], so we were together and know each other well. But then for the last seven or eight years, when I went to Madrid, Chelsea and United, he went to Empoli and Sampdoria.

“Michael, of course, I know very well and he knows me very well, but he was a player and now it’s the first steps for him, in this period, to grow up and feel more comfortable in a new role.