I hope United win Cup, says Mourinho

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is hoping Manchester United come out on top in Saturday’s FA Cup final against Arsenal – because he likes Alex Ferguson.

Mourinho, who led the Blues to the Premiership title, has revealed he would like to see Alex Ferguson’s men triumph in the Cardiff clash with Arsene Wenger’s side.

Wenger has not endeared himself to the Portuguese by saying Mourinho’s title winners are not the most entertaining Chelsea side he has seen, believing the side led by Gianluca Vialli had more flair.

The Arsenal boss is also frustrated by Chelsea’s behaviour in the Ashley Cole “tapping up” affair, while Gunners skipper Patrick Vieira insists the best two teams in the country are playing in the Millennium Stadium clash on Saturday.

Mourinho, asked for his thoughts on Wenger by Gary Lineker for a BBC documentary to be screened on Monday, said: “I don’t know him well, so I think it’s not fair to speak about someone I don’t know personally.

“When he says he likes other Chelsea teams much more than our team I know why - because we are the champions. He preferred the other way when they were the champions.

“I didn’t like Arsenal in the beginning of the season when they smashed everybody and I don’t like them now when they beat Everton 7-0 and they win.

“But I liked them very much in the middle of the season when every weekend they lost points. I was in love with them then, so I can understand why Arsene doesn’t like us.”

But on Ferguson, Mourinho said: “I respect him, but not just respect, I like him. He is a person to have a word fight with but at the end of the game everything ends.

“He is a very correct person and he teaches me a few things.”

On the final, the Portuguese added: “I would like Manchester United to win. I have no problem to say that.”