PREMIER LEAGUE PASSION

MOURINHO: Hostile atmosphere? It’s what we want... it motivates us... it is beautiful

JOSE MOURINHO has told Liverpool fans to bring on the hostility today for Manchester United’s visit to Anfield.

United and Mourinho will be subjected to sustained abuse when they visit the home of their fiercest rivals, in what remains the biggest game in English football.

But far from being intimidated by the animosity, Mourinho said he and his players will relish it.

“This is quite funny for me, because, I think, when people speak about big atmospheres, it looks like we don’t like it,” said Mourinho.

“It looks like it’s a problem for us to go to a certain place and to face a big atmosphere – this is what we want. I’m surprised when I hear big, former players speak about atmospheres like something sinister, something that worries us.

“It motivates us, it is something that we want, it is something that, if we could have it every match, we would have it every match.

“We know the fans have huge animosity against United historically, but this is what we want. So we’re very happy to have one more opportunity in our careers to play in these beautiful conditions. It’s beautiful to play at

Anfield, beautiful.

“When Barcelona played against Las

Palmas with an empty stadium, do you think the players were happy?

“Do you think the Las Palmas players wouldn’t prefer to play with the Nou Camp full of people and a great atmosphere? “We’re speaking about Old Trafford but, in this case Anfield, like it’s a big problem. It’s a satisfaction, that’s what we want. “I never see a player complain, ‘Oh, this atmosphere was very strong’ – we complain when the atmosphere is flat. “When we play at home and we don’t see big enthusiasm in the people, we complain.” Mourinho (left) has a long-running rivalry with Liverpool fans, stretching back to his first spell at Chelsea. The self-titled Special One has experienced both joy and despair at Anfield and said: “I won big matches at Anfield, I lost big matches at Anfield. I left that stadium so happy, I left that stadium so sad.

“Their supporters left that stadium once in the direction of the Champions League final, and also left that stadium devastated because they lost a title, almost in the last game.

“This is the beauty of football and, again, I like to play there because everything is good. The result can be good or bad, but to play there is great.

“I did that with Chelsea, I did that once with Manchester United, and I hope to play there many times more.”

With one win in their last seven matches in all competitions, there is more pressure on Liverpool to get a win today.

And the United boss warned: “In the last couple of weeks I tried to analyse them in a more precise way.

“I know what they are.”