Jose Mourinho aims to protect sensational record of only ever losing nine home matches as he makes his Premier League bow at Old Trafford
New Manchester United boss makes home grounds fortresses — and is out to start with Red Devils as they host Southampton
JOSE MOURINHO will put his incredible home record on the line when Manchester United take on Southampton at Old Trafford.
The new Red Devils boss has lost just nine of the 206 league games he has managed on home soil.
He remained unbeaten at the Estadio da Luz with Benfica, the Estadio De Magalhaes Pessoa with UD Leiria and the San Siro with Inter Milan.
While his first defeat at Stamford Bridge only came in his second spell as Chelsea boss.
He even won at the West London ground when he brought Inter there for a Champions League tie in 2010.
SunSport take a look back at Mourinho’s losses — and one or two near misses.
Porto: 2002-2004
Mourinho had managed 11 home games without defeat at Benfica and UD Leiria before taking over at Porto.
He particularly impressed with lowly Leiria where he held Sporting and his former employers to draws.
But that proud record ended just one month into his tenure at the Estadio Dragao.
Nine-man Porto went down 3-2 to Beira-Mar in February 2002.
It would be a while before he faced a league loss at home.
Chelsea (first spell): 2004-2007
Mourinho hit the Premier League like a wrecking ball, winning back-to-back titles in his first two seasons.
But it wasn’t third time lucky as Chelsea finished behind United in 2007, before a poor start to his third season signalled the end of the self-proclaimed Special One’s first Stamford Bridge tenure.
Throughout his time, he never lost a league match at home.
The closest he came was a 1-1 draw against Arsenal, when Michael Essien’s late thunderbolt earned a scarcely deserved draw.
Inter Milan: 2008-2010
Again, Mourinho never lost at home.
But he came very close in one encounter with Siena as Inter went for the Treble.
With 88 minutes showing on the clock, the away side were 3-2 ahead — only for Wesley Sneijder to equalise with a thundering free-kick.
Not content with just maintaining his home record, Mourinho wanted more and told his players to push for a winner.
And centre-back Walter Samuel found himself unmarked in the Siena box to net Inter’s fourth three minutes into stoppage time.
Real Madrid: 2010-2013
It took nearly ten years, but it finally happened — Mourinho lost another home game.
Sporting Gijon came to the Bernabeu and conquered in April 2011 — just three days before Tottenham were humbled 4-0 on the same ground in the Champions League.
And, just like the buses, a second defeat soon came.
Real Zaragoza won 3-2 in the same month.
Barcelona were the third team to beat Mourinho at the Bernabeu in La Liga when goals from Alexis Sanchez, Xavi and Cesc Fabregas completed a 3-1 victory eight months later.
Chelsea (second spell): 2013-2015
Mourinho finally succumbed to defeat at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea in his 78th game.
Lowly Sunderland were the surprise victors, as they fought to beat relegation.
A title and unbeaten record followed in 2014-15 — but it all began to unravel in the following season.
Crystal Palace were the first away side to win at Stamford Bridge in late August, before Southampton blew the Blues away just four games later.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool career really took off when the Reds came from behind to beat Chelsea 3-1 in West London.
But the shock loss to newly-promoted Bournemouth was the really nail in the coffin.
Mourinho was sacked just one game later.