Old Trafford ‘feels like home’ for relaxed Mourinho

FLU-RIDDEN and with a scarf around his neck, Jose Mourinho was still in a mischievous mood as he held court at Old Trafford ahead of Inter Milan's attempts to eliminate European champions Manchester United from the Champions League tonight.

After all, as the Special One suggested himself, Old Trafford already 'feels like home' and the Portuguese will be aiming to feel the warm glow of another happy experience at the Theatre of Dreams when the English and Italian champions collide for a place in the quarter-finals.

Only Alex Ferguson himself can attest to enjoying the atmosphere of Old Trafford more than Mourinho. While Porto coach, Costinha's injury-time goal in the 2004 second round Champions League propelled the Portuguese champions to the European Cup and diverted Mourinho's career path to Stamford Bridge.

More glory, often at United's expense, ensued with Chelsea and it required perhaps the greatest achievement of Ferguson's career to haul the Londoners in and restore United to the pinnacle of domestic and European football.

But at 67, Ferguson's days at Old Trafford are surely running down. He will vacate the stage sooner rather than later, so who better than Mourinho to take his place? Even the man himself cannot resist that picture.

Mourinho said: “Me succeeding Sir Alex? Why not, but in 20 years maybe! He's tough, he's strong, he is happy and he loves it. He still wins, so let him be here for 20 more years!

“2004 was the first time I came to Old Trafford with Porto, so everything was new for me. But now it is like home because, in the five years since I first came here, I have been a lot of times in the Premier League, Carling Cup and FA Cup semi-finals.

“It has become part of my life and in that sense it's a different feeling coming back with Inter. I even know the groundsman.

“He is asking me to train on one side of the pitch because that side has no sun. I know the man, he's a nice guy, so that's ok!”

Mourinho, who expects Argentinean defender Walter Samuel to prove his fitness in time for the second-leg tonight, admits that Costinha's injury-time goal in that Old Trafford game, which preceded a memorable dash down the touchline, paved the way for him to land his job at Chelsea.

He said: “Because of that goal, we could win the competition. Without it, we wouldn't even reach the quarter final. A few years later, a lot of people knew those Porto players, but at that time they didn't. Who was this crazy manager running down the touchline?

“It was a crucial moment in our career. Our careers changed and that team was destroyed because everyone had potential for different flights.

“That was the goal which opened doors in England for me and my career was never the same. Of course I remember that moment really well, but that's football, that's over and I'm not one to look back.

“On Wednesday, we will try to do it against a very, very good team. We have in mind what we have to do and we know our qualities and how we can create qualities. Football is football. You never know what will happen, but we are prepared for the game and we believe we can do it.”

Last month's 0-0 draw in the San Siro has left tonight's return delicately poised. United may be irrepressible in the Premier League, but an Inter goal will leave them with a mountain to climb and the spectre of elimination on the away goal looms large.

Mourinho said: “0-0 in the first-leg is a good result for the team that plays the second leg away. I lost a semi-final against Liverpool with a 0-0 at home, but I also won a semi-final with a 0-0. If we win we go through, but if we draw, we can go through. It's a game for people who can hold the pressure.”