I’m no monster, Mourinho insist

Jose Mourinho has insisted he is not the “monster” he was portrayed to be when he joined Manchester United.

Mourinho became the first United manager to win a trophy in his first season at Old Trafford when he collected the League Cup with last week’s thrilling 3-2 win against Southampton at Wembley.

And he will be aiming for more silverware when he takes United’s challenge in the Europa League to Russian side Rostov.

Mourinho arrived at Old Trafford having been sacked from Chelsea last season after a toxic fallout that involved the dismissal of a club doctor and alleged disagreements inside the dressing room.

But the United manager was adamant nobody at Old Trafford thought him an ogre.

“I think Man United have learnt I’m not the monster people say I am,” he said on Friday.

“I’m not such a bad guy, an arrogant guy, a difficult person to work with, at least until now nobody at the training ground runs away when I arrive!

“So I think I’m better than you (the media) think – people are quite happy to have me around and to work with me,” the Portuguese added at a news conference.

“The relationship with the players is very good, and the relationship with my owners and my board I don’t think is just professional, it’s also one of trust and one that goes further than the contract, the manager, the owner, the board, so I’m happy.

“My feeling is everyone is happy but my contract is three years, not seven or eight months and I want evolution and improvement.”