Mourinho: Let's forget the past three years

JOSE Mourinho wants to concentrate on the future as he looks to bring the good times back to Manchester United.

The Portuguese wants everyone associated with the club to forget the three-year period under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal and move forward as he looks to replicate the club's triumphant history.

United have failed to make it into the Champions League in two of the three seasons since Sir Alex Ferguson retired ­- a period of dissatisfaction Mourinho wants to forget.

"I think we can look at our club now in two perspectives," he told the club's in-house television station MUTV. "One perspective is the past three years and another perspective is the club history.

"I think I prefer to forget the past three years, I prefer to focus on the giant club I have in my hands now. I think what the fans are expecting me to say is that I want to win.

"So, yes, I want to focus on the history of this giant club and give what I have and what I don't have, so I will give absolutely everything to try and go in the direction we all want."

Van Gaal's turbulent two-year reign was brought to an end just days after winning the FA Cup.

Wembley glory was unable to mask poor Barclays Premier League performances in terms of style and substance, with United quickly following up their long-reported interest in the former Chelsea boss.

Talks started on Tuesday, but it took until Friday for the terms of the contract to be ironed out and United to announce the three-year deal, with an option for the 53-year-old to stay at the club until at least 2020.

Mourinho's excitement to be taking over a club with a "mystique and a romance" is clear, as is his desire to revive United's ailing fortunes.

Turgid, prosaic football led to the club's worst scoring return in the league for 26 years and saw Van Gaal's side miss out on Champions League qualification to Manchester City on goal difference.

Mourinho's use of "we" and talk of winning is quite the change to Van Gaal, the man he once assisted at Barcelona.

"You know, I think I know what they can give me," Mourinho said of United's fanbase. "I think also they know what I can give them.

"Obviously the most important thing are the players and the relation of the players is the bridge with them."