Mourinho seeks that elusive Super Cup
MANCHESTER UNITED’S Jose Mourinho can collect the one European trophy he lacks when his side face Real Madrid in the Uefa Super Cup tonight in his first competitive meeting with the Spanish giants since an acrimonious split in 2013.
Mourinho, whose team won the Europa League last season to salvage an otherwise disappointing first campaign under the Portuguese coach, led Real to the Liga title with a record 100 points and won a King’s Cup in an eventful stay between 2010 and 2013.
His achievements at the Santiago Bernabeu were overshadowed, however, by his falling out with key dressing-room figures such as Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas as well as confrontations with referees and opponents, plus a failure to win the Champions League, as Real lost in the semi-finals each year.
Mourinho’s legacy has been upstaged by the Spanish club’s three Champions League triumphs in the four years since his departure, although in a recent interview he claimed he had “to beg” Real’s board to let him leave for Chelsea.
Champions League holders Real will be without talisman and former United forward Cristiano Ronaldo in Skopje, Macedonia, as the Portugal international was allowed to report late for pre-season training after he played in the Confederations Cup.
Zinedine Zidane’s side beat Sevilla 3-2 in extra-time last year to win the showcase match and the French coach is targeting a fourth European trophy in less than two years in charge of Real.
United, meanwhile, will be missing central defenders Eric Bailly and Phil Jones due to suspension, opening up a place in the starting XI for new recruit Victor Lindelof.
The Swede is one of three signings made so far by United along with Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, and midfielder Nemanja Matic arriving at a combined cost of £146 million (R2.5bn) as the side look to improve on a disappointing sixth-placed Premier League finish last term.
Real have added promising youngsters Theo Hernandez and Dani Ceballos to their squad, while parting ways with forwards Alvaro Morata and James Rodriguez.
United beat Real on penalties after a 1-1 draw in a friendly in California last month and won five of their other pre-season games, losing only to Barcelona. – Reuters