Jose Mourinho had a difficult start at Manchester United after taking over from Dutchman Louis van Gaal but the Portuguese coach says his job looks very easy right now.
Image: Jose Mourinho
Having steered the Red Devils to three consecutive wins and a Boxing Day EPL fixture at hand, the former Real Madrid coach says he is beginning to “feel at home” at Old Trafford.
Mourinho, 53, said he believes the available human and material resources at his disposal will provide excellent results in the long run.
United will play against Sunderland today 26 December.
“What I can say is that in here I felt people with open arms. A very calm, and intelligent, board and owners. They know what they want,” Mourinho said, relishing on a possible Champions League spot.
Image: Jose Mourinho
“They have big experience already. Very calm, very pragmatic, giving me good conditions to work and the players and people that surround me.
“I felt some sadness because people that love football, they want to be successful and everybody tries to help to go in the same direction.
“For me it was easy to come. A difficult job, but easy now to feel at home.
“Easy to feel good in the club, easy to feel that the club wants to progress, the people want to be happy again and I felt good immediately.
“So five, six months here, but really feeling at home. For me it was quite easy.
“Obviously expectations are high, results up and down, we are in a position that is not the position where we want to be.
“But in terms of passion for my work, passion for my new club, feeling really happy here, yes.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is expected to start the game against Sunderland. At 35, the former PSG player has scored 16 goals since joining the Red Devils last summer. He scored twice in last weekend’s 2-0 thrashing of West Bromwich Albion.
Image: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
“I think 35 for him is the same as 25,” Mourinho said about the legendary footballer.
“He scores goals, plays well, I’m really happy for him because he will end his career on high, not in America or China. He’s ending his career at the top.
“His record is good. He can improve. With no penalties, that is amazing too. Normally other guys that are top scorers have a lot of penalties.
“He had one penalty in 17 matches. I couldn’t be happier with him.”
United player Luke Shaw is expected to miss today’s derby against Sunderland. However, there are quality replacements for the defender.
Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly are all available.
