Ferguson: Mourinho is a ´mirror image´

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson sees many qualities in Jose Mourinho that he had when he started out.

Ferguson first came to prominence while in charge of Aberdeen, and Mourinho, who has often been tipped to take over at Old Trafford, reminds the Scot of himself.

“I look at Jose and I see myself reflected in many of the things he does,” Ferguson said in a new Spanish book titled Jose Mourinho, The Secrets of his Success.

Mourinho made a big impression on the Premier League during his hugely successful spell at Chelsea and has made it clear that he would like to return to England one day.

The 48-year-old won six trophies in a three-year spell at Stamford Bridge, and while Ferguson remains the most successful manager in the Premier League he says they both share the same character.

“In the first year at Chelsea when I saw him running along the touchline at Old Trafford, he reminded me of my first years at Aberdeen jumping, raising my arms, celebrating,” Ferguson said.

“We’re only human. We can’t hide our emotions. They’re always there, they’re part of who we are, of our character.”

Meanwhile, Ferguson will not strengthen his defender in the January transfer window despite Nemanja Vidic being ruled out for the season.

Vidic ruptured knee ligaments during United’s Champions League defeat to Basle, but Ferguson said he was braced for such a verdict from the medical team when he saw his captain sustain the injury.

“It’s not unexpected but it’s still bad news,” he told The Mirror.

“We missed Nemanja in the early part of the season and he’s such a dominant character, in particular his defending in the penalty box.”

“It does mean we’ll have to choose between Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, but at least we have options there.”

“It’s very difficult to buy players in January and you don’t want to buy someone simply because it gives you another player.”

“So it’s not a consistent route for us to buy in January, simply because of all the disadvantages.”

“I have nothing in mind at the moment.”