Mourinho eyes first Super Cup win
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, August 8, 2017
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United's Mourinho eyes first Super Cup win in Real reunion. |
Manchester United's Jose Mourinho can collect the one European trophy he lacks when his side faces Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup today in his first competitive meeting with the Spanish giant since an acrimonious split in 2013.
Mourinho, whose team won the Europa League last season to salvage an otherwise disappointing first campaign under the Portuguese, led Real to the Liga title with a record 100 points and won a Copa del Rey in an eventful stay between 2010 and 2013.
His achievements at the Santiago Bernabeu were overshadowed, however, by his falling out with key dressing room figures such as Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas as well as confrontations with referees and opponents plus a failure to win the UEFA Champions League, as Real lost in the semifinals each year.
Mourinho's legacy has been upstaged by the Spanish club's three UCL triumphs in the four years since his departure, although in a recent interview the Portuguese claimed he had "to beg" Real's board to let him leave for Chelsea.
UCL holder Real will be without talisman and former United forward Cristiano Ronaldo in Skopje, Macedonia, as the Portugal international was allowed to report late for preseason training after he played in the Confederations Cup.
Zinedine Zidane's side beat Sevilla 3-2 in extra-time last year to win the showcase match and the French coach is targeting a fourth European trophy in less than two years in charge of Real in Skopje, which would match Mourinho's tally of continental titles.
United, meanwhile, will be missing central defenders Eric Bailly and Phil Jones due to suspension, opening up a place in the starting lineup for new recruit Victor Lindelof.
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