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Mourinho 'not worried' about Van Gaal

Jose Mourinho worked with Louis van Gaal for three years at Barcelona © Getty Images

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Jose Mourinho is not concerned by Louis van Gaal's arrival at Manchester United - with the Chelsea manager revealing he has "deep respect" for the new man in charge at Old Trafford.

The pair worked together for three years at Barcelona but will go head-to-head this season, with Van Gaal having taken the reins at United following a successful World Cup with the Netherlands.

He has also won titles in Spain, the Netherlands and Germany with Barcelona, Ajax and Bayern Munich and said at his introductory news conference that he is aiming to add England to that list.

Mourinho - whose Inter Milan side beat Van Gaal's Bayern in the 2010 Champions League final - and Chelsea will be among the main rivals standing in his way.

"I'm not worried about him being here. I look forward to playing against United. Nothing worries me," Mourinho told the Mail on Sunday.

"I watched him at his press conference and he was pure Van Gaal - honest and open, the way he always is.

"He is a very, very good coach, he'll be great for Manchester United. We are both great coaches. It's what we were born to do.

"Louis was the best coach in the World Cup and he is a good friend - really, a friend for life. I have deep respect for this man.

"He is in the best period of his career. With coaching, if you deal with winning and losing in the right way, you improve. He analyses every experience. He has got better and better.''

Van Gaal begins his Premier League career against Swansea on August 16, two days before Chelsea open their campaign against promoted Burnley.

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