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JOSE MOURINHO believes HE deserves the credit for turning Manchester United into European champions.
Mourinho claims his reign at Chelsea made United up their game, resulting in them winning back the Premier League and Champions League.
He said: “When I was in England, Chelsea was the best team between 2004-06. That is why we won two consecutive Premierships.
“Manchester United at that time realised they needed to be better to win it and, in my third season, that’s what they did. And they went on to win the Champions League.
“That has given them so much confidence. They are certainly a better team now than when I was in England.”
How much better he could find out tomorrow when his Inter Milan side face United in the San Siro in their Champions League second-round, first-leg clash.
While United will be narrow favourites to progress, Mourinho is convinced his side has what it takes to knock out the holders and win the tournament for the first time since 1965.
Mourinho added: “This is the biggest challenge of my career here.
“The Champions League is so important to Inter Milan, because they have not won the cup for nearly 50 years.
“It is the ambition of everyone at this club to do it.”
Mourinho says it will be ‘war’ between him and Alex Ferguson in the tie, though afterwards he expects to continue his good relationship with the United boss.
The Special One said: “I have a great relationship with Sir Alex.
“You know during the game it is going to be a real war. But afterwards there is always happiness and we share some time together. I don’t want that to change, no matter who wins or loses.
“I have so many good memories of facing United. I beat them while with Porto in the last 16, in a Carling Cup semi-final with Chelsea and also at Stamford Bridge to claim our second title.” You can throw in the 2007 FA Cup win, too, and Mourinho admitted: “My personal record against them makes me confident.”
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Many believe Mourinho will suceed the all-conquering United chief when he retires. Yet Mourinho has different plans.
He revealed: “One of my ambitions as a manager is to win the three most important championships in Europe — the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga.
“If I can do the first two, my focus in the future will be on La Liga.”
Inter have won the Serie A title for the last three seasons and are odds-on to do it again in 2008-09.
Mourinho believes the United battle could revolve around how his team handle Cristiano Ronaldo and United cope with the player he believes is the world’s best — Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
He declared: “Cristiano Ronaldo is a top player. It is impossible to stop such a good player, just as Sir Alex will find with Ibrahimovich.”
Mourinho claims his reign at Chelsea made United up their game, resulting in them winning back the Premier League and Champions League.
He said: “When I was in England, Chelsea was the best team between 2004-06. That is why we won two consecutive Premierships.
“Manchester United at that time realised they needed to be better to win it and, in my third season, that’s what they did. And they went on to win the Champions League.
“That has given them so much confidence. They are certainly a better team now than when I was in England.”
How much better he could find out tomorrow when his Inter Milan side face United in the San Siro in their Champions League second-round, first-leg clash.
While United will be narrow favourites to progress, Mourinho is convinced his side has what it takes to knock out the holders and win the tournament for the first time since 1965.
Mourinho added: “This is the biggest challenge of my career here.
“The Champions League is so important to Inter Milan, because they have not won the cup for nearly 50 years.
“It is the ambition of everyone at this club to do it.”
Mourinho says it will be ‘war’ between him and Alex Ferguson in the tie, though afterwards he expects to continue his good relationship with the United boss.
The Special One said: “I have a great relationship with Sir Alex.
“You know during the game it is going to be a real war. But afterwards there is always happiness and we share some time together. I don’t want that to change, no matter who wins or loses.
“I have so many good memories of facing United. I beat them while with Porto in the last 16, in a Carling Cup semi-final with Chelsea and also at Stamford Bridge to claim our second title.” You can throw in the 2007 FA Cup win, too, and Mourinho admitted: “My personal record against them makes me confident.”
Advertisement
Many believe Mourinho will suceed the all-conquering United chief when he retires. Yet Mourinho has different plans.
He revealed: “One of my ambitions as a manager is to win the three most important championships in Europe — the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga.
“If I can do the first two, my focus in the future will be on La Liga.”
Inter have won the Serie A title for the last three seasons and are odds-on to do it again in 2008-09.
Mourinho believes the United battle could revolve around how his team handle Cristiano Ronaldo and United cope with the player he believes is the world’s best — Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
He declared: “Cristiano Ronaldo is a top player. It is impossible to stop such a good player, just as Sir Alex will find with Ibrahimovich.”
