One of the strangest things about Jose Mourinho's second stint in charge at Chelsea - and there were many - was his attitude to the club's supporters.
Despite idolatry of him rolling from the stands at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho often complained about the atmosphere at Chelsea. Following a 2-1 home win against QPR in 2014, Mourinho complained that the atmosphere was so dull that is was like "playing in an empty stadium". He apologised a couple of weeks later.
In 2015, he was criticising them again, comparing his supporters unfavourably with Liverpool fans during the two-legged League Cup semi-final:
Two legs is difficult, Anfield is difficult and with this result we transform a two-leg semi-final into a one-leg semi-final at Stamford Bridge.
If Stamford Bridge can give us 25 percent of the emotion Anfield gives Liverpool, I think we can do it.
Liverpool, instead of 40,000 fans, they will have five or 10 (thousand).
Chelsea, instead of 1,000, will have 40,000. I hope that can make a difference in the atmosphere.
Filling into Alex Ferguson's capacious shoes, Mourinho took no such lengths on his first matchday with United, a comfortable 2-0 friendly win away to Wigan. It was a short trip for United fans to make, but Mourinho was impressed nonetheless:
A manager being brave enough to criticise his own supporters is rare, with managers either well-established or foolish to do so. Alex Ferguson did it in 2008, complaining that the atmosphere at a league game against Birmingham at Old Trafford in January 2008 was "like a funeral out there". Mourinho felt he had that firm standing at Chelsea, and evidently doesn't have it yet at United.
He was subject to a superbly entertaining chant during the game, however. Mourinho ignored United fans when they serenaded him with a "Give us a wave" chant, with United fans responding with the "Sit down Mourinho" chant that they sang when he was at Chelsea. This time, Mourinho gave them the wave. Watch below:
