Mourinho's Confidence Is Infectious

Jose Mourinho breezed into Old Trafford on Tuesday and oozed confidence as he addressed the media. As far as initial impressions go, it was a sure-footed one.

We could expect nothing less from a self-assured manager whose record speaks for itself but he was in control throughout, answering questions at length and speaking with clarity and honesty, mixed with a steely determination.

For me, one thing that appears obvious is how thrilled he is to have this opportunity. When the inevitable opening gambit asked how he would describe himself following his previous 'Special One' and 'Happy One' declarations at Chelsea, he smiled and admitted he did not know. Not that he was lost for words. Far from it.

Reading articles in the build-up to the official unveiling of Manchester United's 11th post-war manager, not including caretakers Jimmy Murphy and Ryan Giggs, it was suggested it would be notable when Sir Alex Ferguson's name cropped up in the conversation. When a man whose managerial feats may never be bettered was mentioned, perhaps it was fitting it was in the context of Jose making no bones about his determination to chase down Sir Alex's record of matches in the Champions League.

It was one moment that spoke volumes about the new man. Far from being cowed or intimidated by the success of the past, he seems inspired by it. Outlining that particular ambition conveyed the absolute belief that merely reaching the Champions League is not a primary target. He is looking further ahead. "To finish fourth is not the aim," he reasoned. "Manchester United is a Champions League club."

The bar will be set high by the new boss. "I want it all," he has demanded, sounding like the late Freddie Mercury, the ex-Queen frontman. This is exactly the kind of rhetoric every United supporter wants to hear and the winning mindset has a habit of transmitting itself to the players and fans. Leicester City, whose amazing Premier League success was referenced by the boss, showed what can be achieved with everybody pulling in the same direction. It was obvious when attending last year's game at the King Power Stadium that the whole club, on and off the field, believed something special could be achieved.

Again, Mourinho has made a similar point. "I want the fans behind us," he said, and there is little doubt he will benefit from the support of a crowd that is renowned for providing backing and, if I am judging the mood right, will be excited and enthused about the new season. The manager clearly is, despite some people suggesting he did not smile too much at his unveiling, and betrayed only a frustration that he cannot wait to get started. He is itching to begin coaching his troops and instilling his ideas.

His manner and demeanour otherwise, including behind the scenes, indicates a joy and satisfaction at taking a job many think was always perfect for him. Those seeking to find reasons why a driven winner may not be a natural fit for the most successful club in the land have cited certain historical edicts at Manchester United, such as promoting youth and producing a cavalier style of play. Mourinho was prepared for these questions at the press conference and even pre-empted their airing.

The Portuguese coach had a list prepared of youngsters he had provided with first-team opportunities - 49 by his reckoning - and has already discussed which Academy products have potential with the staff. Tyrell Warren and Axel Tuanzebe may still be considered ones for the future, even if they are set to feature against Wigan Athletic in the first friendly, but Marcus Rashford seems assured of a prominent place in the manager's squad plans. The England striker may only be 18 but, if he is good enough, he will surely play and the early signs are he is definitely good enough.

The whole concept of playing unattractive football seems unfairly slanted around individual games where a tactical masterclass was employed, often to achieve the desired result. No United fan will forget Chelsea's 2-0 win at Liverpool as the Merseysiders closed in on the title in 2014 when the hosts were outwitted. However, such a (remarkably effective and clearly the right) approach was a one-off for that occasion. Most Reds supporters were lauding that performance and result at the time, for obvious reasons.

When MUTV's Stewart Gardner suggested to Jose his Chelsea team had once scored 100 goals in a season, he was corrected to "103" by the boss for the 2009/10 exploits - a record for the division. It is something he is rightly proud of, and they also enjoyed the largest Premier League goal difference in history that term (+71). Yet the stat for the fewest goals conceded in a season (15) five years earlier will also be of great satisfaction. And rightly so. Football is about both attacking and defending.

For all my memories of Mourinho's time away from his current club, there is one I have never been able to dislodge. It was 9 April in 2006 and United had applied real pressure to the Blues, reducing the lead at the top to seven points and raising some hope of stopping a second successive title triumph. West Ham took the lead at Stamford Bridge and Maniche's red card on 17 minutes surely signalled more dropped points.

The result? 4-1 to the 10 men with all the goals coming before the 69th minute. Chelsea were true champions and Mourinho had assembled a squad with such a strong mentality that it seemed, at the time, nothing could stop them. Not even United, as we slipped to a 3-0 defeat in the capital that ended the title race in emphatic fashion.

So the manager brings a winning ethos that will hopefully prove infectious. He has already noted the club has a high proportion of employees who are genuine fans. "What I felt immediately is that the people love the club. I was previously in other clubs, and I was lucky enough to be at good clubs, big clubs, but I wouldn't feel that passion. To be fair and to be honest, I found great professionals in different areas but some people, they were fans of other clubs."

So Mourinho is already feeling at home and is comfortable everybody is pulling in the right direction. That certainly seems to be the case here and there is excitement and anticipation for the campaign ahead. The boss is aiming high - and so should every Reds supporter. It's what Manchester United do.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be considered as representative of Manchester United Football Club.

Credit: Manutd.com