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Ferguson wants Mourinho to keep quiet

LONDON: Sir Alex Ferguson believes Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is right to tone down his confrontational approach this season.

Mourinho claims he will try not to get embroiled in any more controversy with opponents and officials because he fears the football public have started to turn on him.

The Portuguese has had high-profile spats with the likes of Rafa Benitez and Arsene Wenger during his time at Stamford Bridge and Ferguson - no stranger himself to taking on other managers - insists the tough guy act was wearing thin.

“It’s probably a good thing for him he has said he will be less outspoken,” said the Manchester United manager.

“He was getting himself in all sorts of difficulties and he is not stupid.
“He has realised that everything he tries is just for a reason and to suit himself. He has realised that everyone has cottoned on and are not stupid and what he says does not have the same impact.

“He is obviously not relishing the bad publicity and has obviously learned his lesson a little bit, everybody does.”

Mourinho’s brash pronouncements initially made him the darling of the Premiership when he arrived from Porto. Ferguson admits he does have a soft spot for his title rival and doesn’t want him to get in any more trouble.

“I do like him, he has brought a bit of colour to the Premiership,” said Ferguson, who is not averse to sharing a bottle of wine or two with fellow wine buff Mourinho after their club head to heads.

“He did well on the publicity side when he first came because he was brash, young and brave with his comments.

“He endeared himself to a lot of people. The important thing is that he obviously wants to change the way he gives out publicity before games and things like that and that is not a bad thing,” said Ferguson, who was not best pleased when he got an early taste of Mourinho’s style after Porto eliminated United from the Champions League in 2004.

While Mourinho is trying to stay out of the spotlight, Ferguson’s bid to bring Carlos Tevez to Old Trafford has dominated the headlines during the close season.

Tevez’s representatives have been involved in a bitter dispute with West Ham over ownership of the Argentina striker. The row is likely to be settled in the High Court but Ferguson has no intention of backing out of the deal now