Jose Mourinho: I've never had players I like so much as at Manchester United

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Standard Sport9 August 2017

Jose Mourinho says he has never managed a group of players he likes as much as his current Manchester United squad.

The Red Devils boss has enjoyed success almost without interruption across a 17-year managerial career, winning eight domestic titles, two Champions Leagues and two Europa Leagues.

However he has also proven to be a combustible presence and has only once begun a fourth season at a club, lasting little over a month into that campaign during his first spell at Chelsea.

Mourinho has spoken of his desire to change that and spend up over a decade at Old Trafford. And the 54-year-old believes he could not wish for a better group with which to build for the long-term.

“We deserve a rest tomorrow,” Mourinho told BT Sport. “We’ll go for it [against West Ham] with everything.

“I’m so happy to be the manager of these guys, I’ve never had a group I like so much during my long career.

“I’m going to fight for them.”

Mourinho’s side fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Super Cup final, Romelu Lukaku’s goal giving them hope after Casemiro and Isco

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Whilst the European champions had largely proven themselves too good for United Mourinho professed himself pleased with his side’s performance.

“I think we did well, I think we lost to one goal which shows the result was really short and one of their goals was an offside. With a good VAR system it would be 1-1 and extra-time.

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“They could have scored more goals than they did, we could have scored more goals than we did… We were playing a team full of fantastic players, we discussed the result until almost the end.

“We gave them a fight but have reasons to leave optimistic and proud. Let's go for Sunday.”