Gloves off in deadly Bridge duel

Stuart Mathieson

April 27, 2006

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Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson 1/2 Play Slideshow

SIR Alex Ferguson versus Jose Mourinho has been a compelling personal duel that began with the Sorcerer refusing the Apprentice's handshake.

Little was known of the young, suave Portuguese coach when the Reds were drawn against Porto in the European Champions League first knockout stage only two years ago.

His only claim to fame in England was that he was Bobby Robson's one-time translator at Sporting Lisbon.

In Scotland he was better-known to Celtic fans after engineering Porto's UEFA Cup Final win in 2003.

But overturning Britain's most successful manager in two legs and then taking his side to Champions League final victory propelled the upstart on to the wanted list of Europe's elite.

Chelsea lured him to Stamford Bridge and pitched the forthright, outspoken and self-acclaimed `Special One' into a contest with Ferguson as the Premiership's most controversial and successful character.

Here, ahead of the latest clash between the pair in London on Saturday, M.E.N. Sport takes a look at how previous confrontations have played out.

PORTO 2 UNITED 1

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 16 1ST LEG

FEBRUARY 25 2004

Many viewed this pairing as the easiest United could have landed in the last eight but new kid on the block Mourinho had other ideas. It was a fact recognised by Fergie who proclaimed on the eve of the match that this tie was the most difficult.

United got off to a 13th-minute flyer when Quinton Fortune scored.

But the Reds failed to press on with their advantage, allowing Mourinho to urge his XI to attack.

It was fatal. Porto had possession, patience and penetration. Their big striker Benni McCarthy struck twice to win the match. Roy Keane's frustration got the better of him and he was sent off for stamping on goalkeeper Vitor Baia.

Porto's persistent falling down got under Fergie's skin and led to a classic TV moment at the final whistle.

Mourinho, oblivious to Sir Alex's mood, came over with his hand out and smiling. He was stopped in his tracks and looked stunned as he suffered a mouthful from the Scot and had his handshake pushed aside.

Mourinho recovered his composure and showed he was no novice in the mind games when in the press conference he said: "I understand Alex Ferguson was a bit emotional afterwards because with the players he had, he should have done better!"

Ouch. 1-0 to Jose.

UNITED 1 PORTO 1

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 16 2ND LEG

MARCH 9 2004

"You get shocks in life, I suppose. But I didn't see that one coming," said Sir Alex Ferguson after United's KO.

The Reds were dominant but didn't create enough chances. Paul Scholes scored in the first half and then had a second goal wrongly disallowed by a linesman.

United had a slender away goal advantage but Mourinho could come up with nothing to suggest his side were about to pull off a shock.

But having had one lucky break with the chalked off second goal, Mourinho got another when Phil Neville was adjudged to have given away a free-kick in the last minute.

Tim Howard made a hash of keeping out the free kick and Costinha reacted quicker than any United defender to plunder the equaliser.

Mourinho couldn't contain himself and the famous grey trench coat went sprinting from the dugout and dancing down the Old Trafford touchline to his celebrating players.

CHELSEA 1 UNITED 0

PREMIERSHIP

AUGUST 15 2004

Mourinho promised `fun' in his opening programme notes as the new Chelsea boss but the Stamford Bridge faithful weren't that impressed with Jose's idea of a good time.

He appeared to have set the ground rules for the tactics that would ultimately see the Londoners win the title. Against a depleted United team Chelsea were disciplined and defensive.

Having attained a 15th minute lead Chelsea then sat back and invited United to break them down. It was an invite the Reds couldn't take up.

The strain between the two managerial foes surfaced again after the match. Mourinho said, "I told Mr Ferguson that they did not deserve to leave Stamford Bridge with nothing."

A peeved Fergie retorted: "I don't need anyone to tell me about that. I can make my own judgment."

CHELSEA 0 UNITED 0

CARLING CUP SEMI

JANUARY 12 2005

Chelsea were 11 points clear in the Premiership and United went to Stamford Bridge on the back of a woeful FA Cup draw against non-League Exeter at Old Trafford.

Fergie brought all of his big-hitters back except for Roy Keane despite having a match with Liverpool to come days later.

Mourinho also packed his side with his big names as the Carling Cup suddenly took on a more important air.

United were stoic and their resilience restricted Chelsea to a handful of chances.

Fergie went into the second leg at Old Trafford looking as though he would finally get one over on his new `enemy'.

UNITED 1 CHELSEA 2

CARLING CUP SEMI

JANUARY 26 2005

Many happy returns for birthday boy Mourinho. His first time back at Old Trafford since his touchline revelry in the European Cup and he ripped up Sir Alex Ferguson's 100 per cent semi-final record as United boss.

The cagey chess match saw first blood to Chelsea with a Frank Lampard goal in the 29th minute.

Roy Keane and Quinton Fortune kept the Reds rock-solid in midfield but then Fergie had to break the combination up to bring on Wayne Rooney as the Reds searched for an equaliser.

Ryan Giggs levelled the tie but a Damien Duff free-kick floated over Tim Howard for the winner.

UNITED 1 CHELSEA 3

PREMIERSHIP

MAY 10 2005

Fergie praised Chelsea as deserving champions and then Jose Mourinho's side proved just why they were streets ahead of the Reds in the title race that was more of a stroll.

Stony-faced United players had applauded the newly-crowned champions on to the pitch and most of the football came from the slick and confident title winners.

UNITED 1 CHELSEA 0

PREMIERSHIP

NOVEMBER 6 2005

Fergie's reputation as the King of Motivators was on the line.

In United's previous match in the Champions League against Lille the United manager had delivered a wonderful, uplifting Churchillian address in the pre-match press conference. His side failed to react in Paris.

Again in the build-up to this one he gave it great enthusiastic licks in the inspirational stakes.

Had the Reds failed again questions would have been asked. But, on the anniversary of his appointment, Ferguson stoked up a fiery performance from his side.

Darren Fletcher won it with a header after 31 minutes and despite a frenzied last half-hour when Mourinho ditched his natural caution, United held on.

It was Fergie's first success against his junior sparring partner.

Who will emerge victorious on Saturday? Have your say.

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Showing comments 1 to 24 and replies | View All

Mary, SALE (27/04/2006 at 13:18)

That depends on who Fergie chooses to play Chelsea can be beaten we have a reputation for stopping pretenders United will win.

Paul, London (27/04/2006 at 13:20)

Not only are United going to win, I can predict Moanio's post match interview. The better team lost, we had good goals disallowed, their bad goals were allowed to stand, the ref is incompetent and maybe biased, I would like to wish them well, but sadly can't because flukey teams don't need my good wishes. Oh Moanio, you are the archetypal spoilt brat bragging about the best bike in the shop that your dad went out to buy you. If only money were charm.

Overlord, Portland St (27/04/2006 at 13:24)

I don't know where this 'Ferguson v. Mourinho: The Duel' type angle has come from. Mourinho is constantly feuding with Benitez and Wenger. He does not appear unduly bothered about Ferguson at all.

abebe, Ethiopia (27/04/2006 at 13:26)

it is chelsea by 2 goal difference

Andy, Manchester (27/04/2006 at 14:59)

I'm going down there for the game and I just hope we can manage to stop Chelski from winning the title on the day. Thats all you can ask for really. Then we play again before they do, and hopefully we can manage to get within 3 points after a win against Boro next monday. Then, you never know, football is full of surprises?
V Hopeful ManU Fan

Andt, Manchester (27/04/2006 at 15:12)

Paul, apart from not using the phrase 'the ref did't add on enough time' Mourinho seems have learnt it all from Fergie

pete shaw, chorlton (27/04/2006 at 15:39)

Paul from London, will you come on the site and in particular the match report of UNITEDS loss at Chelsea? SOMEHOW I DOUBT IT BUT---- I will remind you of the score , outcome etc ie 12 pts lead,I'M NOT BOTHERED A DRAW WILL DO FINE. It seems to be Utd and their fans doing all the talking and Chelsea are keeping a low profile mmmm probably saving it for the end of the game WHEN HOPEFULLY his team will SHUT you BITTER lot up!!!!!! in the last three seasons Jose has OUTGUNNED FERGUSON BUT ITS ONLY THE START---please remember that!!!!!

colin, canada (27/04/2006 at 15:55)

Unfortunately we are down to three decisions.
Vidic or Brown. Vidic.
Saha or Ruud. Saha
JOS or Fletcher and I believe Fletch is injured so the team picks itself.
There's not much between the two teams except the phenomenal depth at Chelsea. A point is no good so we have to go for it. Lose or draw. Same thing.

cyrus, London (27/04/2006 at 16:12)

Sir alex is the master for the big games , we will beat them , no doubt about that , when we got draw against porto in the champions league , paul schols scored the secound goal and three defenders filled the off side area but the ref was blind and it was a mistake that changed jose`s distiny and sometimes you need a luck and he got it in the right time and againt the bigest club in the world. if the ref allowed that goal i have no idea where jose could have been now .nonetheless we will beat them and its not over yet and there is alaways hope .god bless man united.

Duncan, London (27/04/2006 at 18:04)

Pete Shaw, does posting on a site that has nothing to do with Chelsea, using capitals and slagging off United supporters equate to "keeping a low profile"?

Paul, London (27/04/2006 at 19:14)

Pete Chorlton and Andt Manchester. Poor darlings! That PR car crash Moanio doesn??TMt need your bleeding heart protestations. He needs a personality. If only you could buy them.

de Meester, Amsterdamned (27/04/2006 at 19:42)

Hey I don't care so long as we win.
Cannot have them sashaying down the Kings road on saturday!!
Let's see if we can show them of things to come.
Come On You Reds

paul, sale (27/04/2006 at 22:19)

Having just witnessed the Boro game, I now believe in miracles. So how about this one. United beat Chelski 2-0 this weekend. We then beat Boro 3-0, McLaren fielding his reserves to save them for the Eufa final. Blackburn beat Chelski 1-0. Then, United beat Charlton 4-0 in the last game of the season, Charlton's season having finished back in December. Newcastle, meanwhile, beat Chelski 1-0 to try to pip Blackburn for the last Eufa Cup spot. United win the league on goal difference. Happy days!!!!!!!!!!!

Alias Smith, over the moon (27/04/2006 at 23:38)

Off topic this, but for those who have been saying that the PL is currently weak, how do you explain that we have sides in the final of both European competitions? To boot, neither of those sides are challenging in the PL!

Aaron M., Manchester (28/04/2006 at 02:55)

Maybe I'm missing something, but even if we when our last three and they lose their last three, won't they likely still have us on goal differential. There would definitely some consolation in finishing with the same amount of points, but haven't they essentially wrapped this up already?

Andrew LT, Singapore (28/04/2006 at 03:40)

mmm.tough one. MU wins n they say their season has been a fine one n continue deluding themselves. Chelsea wins n all the salt in the worl rubs on the wound. wts worse. i tink better for MU to lose. Lose in the short term gain in the long. Fergie needs a wake up call. If asking his players to do a guard of honour for chelsea players was a mental game he is playing with his palyers...i think he shd be the first to join that rank and file shaking hans w al the coaching staff of chelsea team. For all the money chelsea spent, hardly is actually on their 1st 11.

Farai, Harare (28/04/2006 at 07:34)

This time no single point to the special one.If memories were visible,I think most people would still be admiring the beautifil pictures choregraphed by 22 or so man who turned OT into conflict zone,that had all the hallmarks of a classic in that famous 6 November game where Chel$ki unbeaten run was ended.However beating them in the last match is not a guarantee that we will win.Football is round it can go any direction.Our lads have to play with their hearts out because Chelsea would want to avoid another defeat at all cost.We will win the game especially considering that Chelsea no longer have the fluency they used to have during the early stages of this season.And Mourinho is under pressure ,he is afraid of being sucked by the Ru$$ian.To United it will be just another game.1-0 in favour of united.

Its FC for me, Tottington (28/04/2006 at 07:50)

My money is on the boys in blue who will show United just why they are Champions again for the second year running. Still you can console yourself with the thought that whether you finish second or third United will still be in the "Champions" league next season.

Alias Smith, over the moon (28/04/2006 at 09:59)

paul (sale) - I'm glad you posted that because it would have been me on very similar lines otherwise! Certainly, we should beat Chelsea and Blackburn are very capable of spanking them at Ewood Park. They would then go into the Newcastle game knowing they need to get a result - squeeky bum time?

RCH, Salford (28/04/2006 at 12:43)

Squeeky bum time? How cute.

Pro-rata, Huddersfield (28/04/2006 at 12:44)

I thought I was mad to be still clinging on to the shred of a possibility that the PL race might just open up one final time. Actually, I still think I'm mad, but it's good to have some company at the asylum from Alias and Paul. Come on United, stick it to 'em.

Yoda, MUFC Base Camp (28/04/2006 at 13:41)

As you can see judgment clouds your minds the dark side is strong we have lost battles before with the young dark Apprentice Mourino. He is strong at the moment but let me say that we have not lost the war. The true inner strength will prevail when we have realised our true potential. The Dark force presides in that part of the world this is where our young will battle but i fear for them as darth roman and his stool Kenyon will be their spreading their evil. We may lose the battle but we have the disire and will to resist this darkness that has spread accross the land.hmm. Be strong my fellow believers the light will return and all good will prevail hmm.

cotumely, london (28/04/2006 at 13:45)

Alias Smith, why "should beat Chelsea"? Would have thought that the logical thing to write would be "Chelsea are the better team, and should beat Man U., especially considering Chelsea's amazing home record".

Alias Smith, over the moon (28/04/2006 at 15:01)

cotumely, what's logic got to do with it? This is not sudoku, it's football! In fact, this is not just football, it's United!

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