I Have Not Peaked As A Manager Yet – Jose Mourinho

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has told Sky Sports that he is at “the top” of his career and has the best years ahead of him, which could keep him going until he is 70.

Mourinho has taken on the United job after a difficult spell at Chelsea, having been sacked in December with the team in 16th position in the Premier League.

But after winning titles in major leagues such as Spain, England and Italy, the 53-year-old feels he still has plenty to offer.

The United manager said: “I have been in some of the biggest clubs in the world. This is like the top of my career, but it comes in the early stage of my career.

“Because, as a manager, I am really young, and I think I have the best years of my career to come up.

“Fifty-three plus 15 is 68, so I would say 14, 15, 16 more years, but I don’t see myself going home before 70.”

Mourinho has already called on the Old Trafford crowd to restore the fear factor to the ground, as he prepares to take charge of his first home league match against Southampton on Friday.

The Portuguese famously ran down the touchline when his Porto team knocked United out of the Champions League in March 2004, but does not think that was a problem.

Mourinho said: “Even as an opponent, I could create a good relationship with the fans, I never had problems, and I have not always behaved the best way. The first time, I was running to celebrate a goal at the touchline.

“I always tried to be nice and have a relationship with the fans at Old Trafford. This time I go and, for the first time, I can do what I never did, which is ask for their support. I always played against them and this time they are on my side.”

The United manager called on them to be like an extra player for the team, saying: “As a fan, you can go to the stadium and watch the game, or you can go and play, and what I ask them to do is go to Old Trafford and play.

“If they play, it’s 80,000 plus 11, versus 11, and the opposition has no chance. I give them that responsibility. If they are behind my players, we have a big chance.”