I WANT MAN UTD TO PLAY LIKE CHELSEA

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has praised Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho ahead of Sunday's clash between the two sides and admits the Blues play the kind of football he hopes to bring to Old Trafford.

Mourinho worked as a coach under Van Gaal at Barcelona in the 1990s and their first meeting as Premier League managers has been billed as a battle of two of the most respected minds in management.

Van Gaal, however, does not think their personal history gives the fixture any extra significance.

"It is not such a great tactical battle because his team plays how I want to play with my team, so I don't think there are secrets any more," Van Gaal told a press conference on Friday.

"Maybe we don't know if Diego Costa plays but this is for another reason, but we know how the teams are playing, and not only from Jose Mourinho but also [Manuel] Pellegrini or other teams because we have a lot of communication and we see a lot of matches.

"But a tactical battle... it is Manchester United against Chelsea and not Jose Mourinho against Louis van Gaal."

Mourinho has previously thanked Van Gaal for his guidance during the early stages of his career at Camp Nou.

And the Dutchman says he had already recognised the potential of the younger man, handing him the extra responsibility of taking charge of Catalunya Cup matches.

"He has said that [he learned a lot at Barcelona] and it's remarkable because not many people talk about that," Van Gaal added.

"He says it not only about Louis van Gaal but Bobby Robson. I appreciate it but you always do it by yourself.

"I was also an assistant coach and my eyes were also opened and it’s good that his eyes were open when he was my assistant, but you do it by yourself.

 "I know Jose already has talent because I let him do cup matches instead of my other coaches. He's a wonderful coach and to see him as a coach winning trophies in other countries is fantastic."

Asked what had impressed him most about Mourinho, Van Gaal replied: "That you can never imagine that he is a very modest and emotional human being - and I like that.

"But it's a surprise, no? He's one of the best coaches in the world."