Mourinho prefers 'to forget the past three years' at Manchester United

It was just over three years ago that Sir Alex Ferguson announced he would stand down as Manchester United's manager, and Jose Mourinho doesn't want to think about what has materialised at Old Trafford since that day.

In conversation with MUTV, Mourinho, who was confirmed Friday as United's manager and Louis van Gaal's successor, said the Red Devils can be looked at from two perspectives: the past three years versus the club's overall history.

Mourinho prefers the latter.

"I feel great," he told MUTV, according to the Guardian. "Well, I think I am in the right moment in my career because Man United is one of these clubs where you need really to be prepared for it because it is what I used to a call giant club. And giant clubs must be for the best managers and I think I am ready for it, so I could say I am happy, I am proud, I am honoured, I am everything. But the reality is that what I love is to work and I cannot wait for the 7th of July to go on the pitch."

Asked what his ambitions are for United, Mourinho answered: "I think we can look at our club now in two perspectives. One perspective is the past three years and another perspective is the club history. I think I prefer to forget the past three years, I prefer to focus on the giant club I have in my hands now. I think what the players they need to listen (to) is I want to win. And more than that, I need the players and supporters to feel that I say that, but I think we can really. It's not just to say what I say. So, yes, I want to focus on the history of this giant club and give what I have and what I don't have, so I will give absolutely everything to try and go in the direction we all want."

Mourinho was also asked to give a message to United's supporters, to which he said: "You know, I think I know what they can give me. I think also they know what I can give them. Obviously the most important thing are the players and the relation of the players is the bridge with them, but I think it is very important and curious that I have played so many times against Man United and I played so many times at Old Trafford with other clubs. There was empathy, no problems and, in fact, I was pushed by that feeling to say sometimes things that my clubs were not happy with. I remember, for example, when I won at Old Trafford with Real Madrid, I told that the best team lost. Not many people was happy at Real Madrid."

Here's video of Mourinho speaking for the first time as United's manager: