I'm no monster - Mourinho

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."
'FUNDAMENTAL' IBRAHIMOVIC
Mourinho's signing of Zlatan Ibrahamovic was an inspired
move, with the 35-year-old already having scored 26
goals this season, including two in last week's final.
And the United boss believes the Swedish striker will
stay, as the club look to exercise the 12-month option
when his contract expires at the end of the season.
"I think Zlatan will be fundamental in the second year of
this team and I think he's willing to stay," said Mourinho,
who previously managed Ibrahimovic at Italian giants
Inter Milan.
"I see him staying with us because the initial agreement
was for him to come for one year plus us having the
option. It's been an amazingly successful year for him.
"It doesn't matter what's going to happen until the end
of the season but the number of goals he's scored, the
trophy he won, the impact he had, the two times he
played in the cathedral (Wembley) is more than enough
to consider him a success at Man United."
Mourinho, whose side continue their bid for a top-four
finish in the Premier League at home to Bournemouth on
Saturday, added: "I only want players who want to stay
100 percent but my feelings are he (Ibrahimovic) is really
proud of himself, he's happy with the success of his
situation, so I see him staying with us."
But Mourinho was less sure about the future of Wayne
Rooney, who has been courted by former club Everton
after being linked with a highly lucrative move to the
Chinese Super League.
"I'm telling you all the talk about Everton for me makes
nonsense," said Mourinho.
"What I got from Wayne was a very strong message that
'I don't go anywhere', especially China.
"The message I got was 'I want to fight and help this
team in every single one', so until the end of the season
he is 100 percent with us.
"Next season 100 percent I would like him to be with us
but I don't give you 100 percent (assurances) and I like
the players to be happy and not just to be with me
because I want them with me."