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Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho out for Real revenge against Madrid in Uefa Super Cup

Old Trafford chief aiming to silence his former employers as he prepares to face Cristiano Ronaldo and Co

THEY leave a nasty taste in Jose Mourinho’s mouth.

Those rascals at the Bernabeu — Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and former captain Iker Casillas — chewed him up and spat him out in 2013.

 Jose Mourinho is out for revenge against Real Madrid on Tuesday
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Jose Mourinho is out for revenge against Real Madrid on TuesdayCredit: PA:Press Association
 Mourinho's Manchester United take on Madrid in the Uefa Super Cup
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Mourinho's Manchester United take on Madrid in the Uefa Super CupCredit: Reuters

Real Madrid’s players did for the Special One, running to the president’s office every time Mourinho upset one of those powerful dressing-room voices.

You just know he would love to put one over on the Galacticos, to slap a few of his former players around the chops when he passes them in the tunnel tonight.

Real have let their football do the talking since, winning the Champions League three times, along with La Liga and two Fifa Club World Cups.

It is a mighty impressive record.

Tonight Mourinho gets the chance to silence them, competing for the Super Cup after a 15-game slog to win last season’s Europa League.

The United boss said: “If we meet in the tunnel or near the bus, is there anyone I would refuse to say ‘hello’ to? Absolutely not.

 Cristiano Ronaldo was one of the stars who fell out with Mourinho at Madrid
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Cristiano Ronaldo was one of the stars who fell out with Mourinho at MadridCredit: AFP or licensors
 Sergio Ramos was another of the Madrid squad to fall out with the Portuguese coach
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Sergio Ramos was another of the Madrid squad to fall out with the Portuguese coachCredit: Reuters

“I left and it was difficult for the others to say  good things about me.

“I’ve never spoken too much, or cried, or asked for anything I didn’t think I deserved.

“I left feeling at ease and feeling that I had nothing left to give. I have never given so much of myself.

 Jose Mourinho is still hurt about his exit from the Bernabeu
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Jose Mourinho is still hurt about his exit from the BernabeuCredit: Reuters
 Although the smile was back on his face on Monday in Macedonia
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Although the smile was back on his face on Monday in MacedoniaCredit: Alamy Live News
 And he is hoping to have an even bigger one on his face after the clash
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And he is hoping to have an even bigger one on his face after the clashCredit: AFP

“I left with peace of mind, I left without wanting to take out the dirty linen. I left to start a new life.

“I’ve never been concerned about this because my main concern is to give everything where I am working.

“I can truly say that I gave more to Real Madrid, than any club  I ever have before.”

Fair enough. His tempestuous, combustible relationship with Ronaldo was at the heart of the problem.

They have never been on a level, despite sharing the same agent, Jorge Mendes.

Mourinho added: “I have a relationship and a friendship with some of the players that has continued through the years, not just at Real Madrid.

“My problems in football never go beyond the world of football. I have absolutely no problem with anyone because I no longer work with them.

“If you ask about players at Chelsea, Inter and Porto, there are some I have maintained a relationship with and others not.”

Ramos had the chance yesterday to speak glowingly about his former boss but instead he refused.

When asked if Mourinho changed his career for the better, by moving him to centre-back, Ramos replied: “No, he’s just another coach I worked with.”

HISTORY OF SUPER CUP

MANCHESTER UNITED hope to lift the Uefa Super Cup for a second time tomorrow — 26 years after their first win.

Brian McClair’s second-half goal gave Cup Winners’ Cup holders United a 1-0 win over Red Star Belgrade at Old Trafford in 1991.

The competition was founded in 1972 and Liverpool — with three wins — are the most  successful English club.

Since 2000, it has been played between the Champions League winners and holders of the Uefa Cup — now the Europa League.

Nonetheless, Mourinho’s bond with United’s players is strong.

They succeeded last term, claiming the   EFL Cup and Europa League — in his first season.

They are in development, short of Real class but big on ambition under their demanding coach.

Winning the Super Cup, one of five trophies United are competing for this season, would be a very good start.

Remarkably, it is the only major trophy missing from Mourinho’s glittering CV.

 The Uefa Super Cup is one trophy missing from Jose Mourinho's CV
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The Uefa Super Cup is one trophy missing from Jose Mourinho's CVCredit: Getty
 Mourinho will be hoping to change that against the La Liga giants
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Mourinho will be hoping to change that against the La Liga giantsCredit: Reuters

He added: “It’s obvious there is a difference between the winners of the Champions League and the Europa League winners. The Europa League is very difficult for United to win because there are a lot of matches, you travel and the motivation is not so high.

“The Europa League is not the El Dorado for the players. The top quality is the Champions League.

“The difference with Real Madrid is that when I arrived they were not even top of their group.

“Despite their history they could not even get past the quarter-final and their most important players had never played in a semi-final.

“When I left they had played three consecutive Champions League semi-finals, they had been Spanish champions.”

Mourinho was part of that but he could not deliver the success they craved at one of the world’s biggest clubs. Real boss Zinedine Zidane has done that, emphatically.

He is in charge of a formidable side, one of the most exciting and expressive teams in the game’s history.

Ronaldo, Ramos, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Marcelo are operating at another level in European football.

Beating them will take something special. Mourinho added: “I’m happy to play in the European Super Cup against the European champions.

“What’s more, when the European champions are the team with the best history and record and trophies, of course I get excited.”

Real Madrid adds to his motivation, a chance to show the dressing room that he deserves more respect.

If he does that, victory will be even sweeter.


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