Chelsea academy graduate Ruben Loftus-Cheek believes Manchester United are "lucky" to have Jose Mourinho as their manager as the Portuguese boss prepares to make his eagerly-anticipated return to his former stomping ground.
Loftus-Cheek, speaking during Chelsea's pre-season tour of the US in July, has only words of praise for the 'Special One', who handed the 20-year-old his first-team debut at the club in 2014.
Mourinho will bring his United side, who currently sit in seventh place in the Premier League standings, to face Antonio Conte's fifth-placed side at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, less than a year after he was relieved of his duties as Chelsea boss.
Now at the Blues' Premier League rivals, Mourinho has been tasked with the aim of trying to steer the Red Devils back into the top four while challenging for the major domestic trophies - similar to Conte.
"I don’t think it will be weird [facing Mourinho]," Loftus-Cheek told Goal about coming up against the Portuguese coach on Sunday.
"But obviously he is a great manager and I think Man United are lucky to have him. So even though he is Chelsea, even though he has moved to United, Chelsea fans still love him."
United come into their clash with Chelsea having secured a point against fierce rivals Liverpool on Monday night while Chelsea comfortably beat champions Leicester City 3-0 on Saturday.
Confidence is high in the Chelsea camp despite the club's recent run of below-par results, and Loftus-Cheek admits the Blues are aiming for nothing other than a win over the Red Devils at Stamford Bridge.
"We are going to try and beat Man United when the time comes," he said.
"They have always had a good team, Man United have always been up challenging for the title so they could be, [the team to beat] yes."
