Jose Mourinho says he has never managed a group of players he likes as much as his current Manchester United squad.
The Red Devils boss has enjoyed success almost without interruption across a 17-year managerial career, winning eight domestic titles, two Champions Leagues and two Europa Leagues.
However he has also proven to be a combustible presence and has only once begun a fourth season at a club, lasting little over a month into that campaign during his first spell at Chelsea.
Mourinho has spoken of his desire to change that and spend up over a decade at Old Trafford. And the 54-year-old believes he could not wish for a better group with which to build for the long-term.
“We deserve a rest tomorrow,” Mourinho told BT Sport. “We’ll go for it [against West Ham] with everything.
“I’m so happy to be the manager of these guys, I’ve never had a group I like so much during my long career.
“I’m going to fight for them.”
Mourinho’s side fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Super Cup final, Romelu Lukaku’s goal giving them hope after Casemiro and Isco
Whilst the European champions had largely proven themselves too good for United Mourinho professed himself pleased with his side’s performance.
“I think we did well, I think we lost to one goal which shows the result was really short and one of their goals was an offside. With a good VAR system it would be 1-1 and extra-time.
“They could have scored more goals than they did, we could have scored more goals than we did… We were playing a team full of fantastic players, we discussed the result until almost the end.
“We gave them a fight but have reasons to leave optimistic and proud. Let's go for Sunday.”
