Mourinho urges Ferguson to stay on

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has urged Manchester United counterpart Alex Ferguson to stay on at Old Trafford.

“I hope to have him as an opponent for some years to come,” Mourinho told The Times at an event supporting the Kick for CLIC programme, which supports families whose children develop cancer or leukaemia.

“From the little moments that I share with him before and after matches, he is still in the maximum of his qualities and potential.

“I learn from him every time we meet, which is why I hope that I can have him for a long time not only as an opponent but a person I respect a lot.

“If you have achieved what Alex Ferguson has, you should choose. No one should tell you. Especially if you are speaking about a great manager, the most successful in the history of the Premiership.”

Ferguson has won an amazing eight Premiership titles, five FA Cups, the Champions League and the European Cup Winners’ Cup with United.

However, it is in defeat which he has impressed Mourinho, with United’s players forming a guard of honour for new league champions Chelsea before Tuesday night’s 3-1 loss at Old Trafford.

“The United fans were unhappy on Tuesday night, but he can teach people to lose with honour and pride,” added Mourinho.

“He is a winner and has a history of winning. We have little words, little fights in the press, like when it was Porto against Man United or after the Carling Cup game. We can have a fight, but he is pure and honest. Five minutes later it is over.”