CHAMPIONS LEAGUE YOU’VE BEEN

Jose stamps his mark with gallery of his United winners

JOSE MOURINHO is building a new identity for his Manchester United stars as they step out of the shadow of Sir Alex Ferguson’s golden era.

The self-styled Special One is full steam ahead with his Old Trafford revolution on the pitch after winning the Europa League and EFL Cup in his first year in charge.

And he’s got fans dreaming of their first Premier League since Ferguson left in 2013 after installing United as early-season title contenders.

But it’s behind the scenes where Mourinho is working equally as hard – to help his stars create their own personality and history at the club’s Carrington training headquarters.

Mourinho has decided he needs to put space between his own players and the galaxy of stars who were so successful under Ferguson.

Shrine

And that’s why in recent weeks he’s transformed parts of United’s training ground into a shrine celebrating the successes of his Class of 2017.

The various buildings at United’s plush training centre have plenty of pictorial reminders of Ferguson’s 27-year reign at the club which produced an incredible trophy haul including 13 Premier League crowns and two Champions League triumphs.

Other parts of the sprawling complex are littered with photographic reminders of United’s past success too.

Especially the Sir Matt Busby era , the Holy Trinity of George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton and Busby’s crowning glory – the 1968 European Cup Final triumph against Benfica at Wembley.

Mourinho respects and revels in that history, recognising United have a rich tradition despite losing their way since Fergie left.

And, as he seeks to build his own dynasty at United he’s been quick to focus on the recent successes of his current team who are already y proving themselves winners.

The inner sanctum at Carrington where Mourinho’s stars relax in the players’ recreational areas, dine together in the restaurant and change for training have been modified in recent weeks to reflect a new beginning. Pictures of the key moments from United’s Cup Final triumphs in the Europa League in Stockholm and at Wembley last season now adorn the walls.

Until Mourinho arrived those corridors and walls in the first-team areas were bedecked with memories of United’s glorious past.

Class of 92 stars like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Gary and Phil Neville and Nicky Butt – as well as imported stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Roy Keane and Nemanja Vidic – provided an intimidating backdrop for Mourinho’s current crop.

Now players like Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Ander Herrera have visual evidence of their own first steps to the kind of sustained glory enjoyed by Ferguson’s heroes.

It’s a subtle change of emphasis by deep- thinking Mourinho and his players are loving it.

So much so that after the 4- 1 midweek Carabao Cup romp against Burton Albion the United manager claimed t here i s a growing “happiness” within his squad that’s