Friday, 24th October, 2014
Jose Mourinho has played down his relationship with Louis van Gaal ahead of Chelsea's trip to face Manchester United on Sunday.
Mourinho worked as a coach under Van Gaal at Barcelona earlier in his career and has a close friendship with the Dutchman which has continued to endure.
The pair have only gone up against each other once in a competitive match, when Mourinho's Inter beat Van Gaal's Bayern Munich in the 2010 Champions League final.
But ahead of their second meeting this Sunday, Mourinho will not get in to the relationship he shares with Van Gaal.
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"Tomorrow I don't play against Louis. Chelsea play against Manchester United", he told a press conference.
"During the match I have no time for, and for sure he has not time to look around and see who the opposing manager is.
"Before the match, after the match, he is one of my big friends in football.
"He was important. He gave me a good opportunity to keep working at a high level.
"As a young coach to be working for four consecutive years, one under Sir Bobby Robson and three under Louis, at Barcelona was very important.
"So if I have to choose the important people in my career for sure Louis is amongst them."
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