There are not many managers who have a positive head-to-head record from their meetings with Sir Alex Ferguson. Jose Mourinho is one of them, though.
The Portuguese boss took on Ferguson's Manchester United on 16 occasions and lost just twice, while coming out on top seven times.
With his Chelsea side due to take on United, now under the management of the David Moyes, tomorrow at Stamford Bridge, Sports Mole has picked out Mourinho's top five encounters against the 20-time champions of England.
1. Porto 2-1 Man United, February 2004
Messrs Mourinho and Ferguson may be friends now, but their relationship kicked off with a confrontation. In what was the opening leg of the last 16 Champions League clash, Quinton Fortune scored an early away goal for United. However, it was Porto who took a lead going into the second leg courtesy of two efforts from Benni McCarthy. Roy Keane saw red for United in the closing stages, which sparked a heated exchanges of views between the two managers. The incident prompted Mourinho to say during his post-match interview: "I understand why he is a bit emotional. You would be sad if your team gets as clearly dominated by opponents who have been built on 10% of the budget."
2. Man United 1-1 Porto, March 2004
There are wingers who have not sprinted down the Old Trafford touchline as quickly as Mourinho did on this occasion. It appeared that his team were heading out on the away goals rule when Paul Scholes put United 1-0 up, levelling up the aggregate score at two goals apiece. Scholes then had a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside, before in stoppage time Porto's Costinha sent his team through after a mistake by home goalkeeper Tim Howard. It was a goal that saw Mourinho join his celebrating players down by the corner flag.
3. Chelsea 1-0 Man United, August 2004
Having guided the unfancied Porto to Champions League success against Monaco, owner Roman Abramovich decided that Mourinho was the man to lead his Chelsea side to the trophies and style of football that he yearned for. As fate would have it, the self-proclaimed 'Special One' would begin life in England with a Premier League clash against Ferguson and United. A depleted United dominated both the possession and chances, but an early Eidur Gudjohnsen goal was enough for the West Londoners to collect all three points.
4. Chelsea 3-0 Man United, April 2006
The Blues needed just one point to retain the Premier League title, but they did it in style with three unanswered goals at Stamford Bridge. William Gallas headed the hosts in front in the fifth minute, with second-half strikes from Joe Cole and Ricardo Carvalho putting gloss on proceedings. After the match, Ferguson said: "Chelsea deserve all the plaudits they will get and, especially on their home form, they are worthy champions."
5. Man United 1-2 Real Madrid, March 2013
Mourinho won the first encounter of his series with Ferguson and he emerged victorious from the last one as well. Madrid and United had played out a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu and when Sergio Ramos put through his own net during the return clash at Old Trafford, it seemed that the Red Devils were heading through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The tie changed, though, on the controversial sending-off of United winger Nani. Madrid went on to make their numerical advantage count courtesy of goals from Luka Modric and former United talisman Cristiano Ronaldo.
Liam Apicella
