Jose Mourinho turns on the charm offensive as he urges Manchester United to be 'humble' ahead of CSKA Moscow Champions League clash

• e-mail

Jose Mourinho was stitched up before the trip had barely begun. A couple of Liverpool fans managed to squeeze themselves into a photograph with him, having slapped a 'Spirit of Shankly' sticker on his shoulder. The notion that 'Jose is a Kopite' was soon in circulation as the image was shared.

But the tone when the Manchester United manager sat down to talk revealed that he is making all the mental calculations. Mourinho passed up the chance to rage against the system – not least his dismissal at Southampton on Saturday – and was positively gushing about the referee he privately believes should have dismissed the Saints player who has put Marouane Fellaini out of this match against CSKA Moscow. The word 'humble' cropped up three times.

Considering his own dismissal and Shane Long's escape from one, it was surprising to hear Mourinho describing himself simply 'happy' that he would face no FA disciplinary action. He said that Saturday's referee Craig Pawson is 'one of the big talents' who had 'a great game, so calm and in control' last weekend.

Jose Mourinho declined to criticise the referee who sent him off in the Premier League 

Man United have won seven of their last eight games ahead of Wednesday at CSKA Moscow

Mourinho urged his players to be 'humble' in order to get through tough periods in games

There is pre-calculation and motive for everything with Mourinho, of course. This sudden deference and diplomacy belongs to the efforts he always makes, when things are going well, to remove the distraction of noise and controversy from his game. It was similar when he returned to Chelsea in 2013 and, for a time, stopped picking fights.

These phases don't tend to last long but it was a sign of the place United are in that he radiated charm, chuckling at the idea of one Russian journalist asking a question about his Swedish defender Victor Lindelof and joking that another must be the agent of the home side player he was talking up.

If there is a problem here for the United side who have dropped only two Premier League points and put Basle away 3-0 in their opening fixture then it is the injuries to midfield personnel, with Michael Carrick and Paul Pogba's absences compounded by Marouanne Fellaini's. 

Antonio Valencia and Phil Jones are also out. But it is a half-baked crisis – nothing compared to the frequent catalogue of defensive injuries which United have brought to the continent in the past 10 years. The biggest complaint the manager has been able to find these past few weeks is his players' nonchalance against Basle: 'PlayStation football, fantasy football, flicks and tricks.'

Mourinho also confirmed that Michael Carrick will not play in the Champions League clash

Henrikh Mkhitaryan sat next to Mourinho at his press conference but is not guaranteed to play

One man who is practically guaranteed to start is No 1 goalkeeper David de Gea (above)

This grievance was also aired in the dressing room two weeks ago, Henrick Mkhitaryan revealed yesterday. 'Everyone knows that Jose Mourinho is very demanding and what he said is right,' the Armenian reflected. 'He didn't say exactly names…but we we're trying to improve that aspect and be more focused during the whole game and not to start playing some Playstation football in the last 20 or 25 minutes.'

Tonight brings United up against the great hope of Russia football – Aleksandr Golovin, who only turned 21 this summer and is considered the nation's best talent since Andrey Arshavin. Golovin has fewer individual surprises on offer than the former Arsenal player but is thought to have a better overall understanding of the game, operating both deep and in advanced positions.

United should not be troubled, though. The presence of both them and Liverpool in the Russian capital this week means 500 police and stewards being deployed at both games, but don't expect Mourinho to get a second mugging. 'We try to play well in the moment the opponent has superiority,' he said. 'We have to be humble.'

United trained shortly after the press conference to get used to the conditions in Moscow

The session began with some light stretching, with Nemanja Matic and Chris Smalling involved

Romelu Lukuku and Anthony Martial wore UEFA bibs with 'RESPECT' printed on the front

As did Juan Mata, who was seen jogging ahead of Jesse Lingard and Macrus Rashford