Sunday 26 October 2014 15:02, UK
Louis van Gaal has played down his role in Jose Mourinho's development, saying the Chelsea manager became the Special One all by himself.
The two first met 17 years ago when the Dutchman appointed Mourinho to his coaching staff at Barcelona, a role he kept for a three-year period in which the Catalan club won two Primera Division titles and a Copa del Rey.
They will go head to head on Sunday when Manchester United host Chelsea in Van Gaal’s most difficult assignment yet as Old Trafford boss.
The Blues are five points clear at the top of the Premier League and on course for another league title to add to Mourinho’s collection, which currently comprises 20 trophies.
The Portuguese often credits a lot of his success to Van Gaal and his other mentor Sir Bobby Robson, but the Manchester United manager thinks the main reason behind Mourinho's success is the man himself.
"He talks about Louis van Gaal and also Bobby Robson, and I appreciate that, but you always do it by yourself," Van Gaal said.
He is a very modest and emotional human being, and I like that.
"I was also an apprentice when I was the assistant coach of Leo Beenhakker (at Ajax) and it's good that my eyes were also open at that time.
"And it's good that Jose Mourinho's eyes were very open when he was my assistant, but you do it by yourself."
Mourinho has made a name for himself in English football through his success, but also through antagonising fellow managers, with the 51-year-old having a verbal battle with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger last season.
But Van Gaal chose to describe Mourinho as “modest” and praised his achievements.
"He's such a wonderful coach," Van Gaal added. "And to see that he's been a champion in different countries is fantastic.
"He is a very modest and emotional human being, and I like that.
"He's very special but he is very special for me because I've worked with him and we've continued our relationship, which in the football world is not always normal. That's nice."
Mourinho has also been known to engage in mind games with his managerial rivals and this week’s psychology has centred around the fitness and availability of striker Diego Costa.
The Chelsea boss said he did not expect Costa to start against United when he spoke after the win over Maribor on Wednesday, but at his pre-match press conference two days later, he said the striker had a "little chance" of recovering from his illness to play.
Van Gaal appears to believe the Spain striker, who moved to Stamford Bridge in a £32million move from Atletico Madrid this summer, will start.
"I think that he [Mourinho] shall play with him when he can because he wants to win," the Dutchman added.
"Of course he can play maybe because he has trained individually, I have heard and read (that) on the websites. I also have my eyes always open.
"He's scored nine out of seven - that is remarkable. So he's in good shape, I think, but he was ill yesterday, so you never know."
Watch Manchester United v Chelsea live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 3.30pm on Sunday
