Jose Mourinho described this Manchester United side as the best he'd ever worked with... but how does it compare with his previous squads at Porto, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter?

In his programme notes for Manchester United’s season-opener against West Ham United, Jose Mourinho revealed that he had never worked with a group he likes as much as his current squad. 

And his side lived up to their billing, as United thrashed West Ham 4-0 thanks to a league debut double from new £75million signing Romelu Lukaku, as well as strikes from Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial.

Here, Sportsmail looks at the Portuguese’s former groups from his spells in charge of Porto, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan and puts them up against United’s Class of 2017.

Jose Mourinho said his current Manchester United squad was the best he'd ever worked with

Jose Mourinho said his current Manchester United squad was the best he'd ever worked with

Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Daley Blind congratulate Paul Pogba on his goal on Sunday

Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Daley Blind congratulate Paul Pogba on his goal on Sunday

 

Porto 2002-2004


We are going to start with Porto, because earlier Mourinho had left Benfica after nine matches and he was only at Uniao de Leiria for around six months. Upon his January arrival, he found the club languishing in fifth place. Mourinho believed in the players he inherited, a talented group which featured the likes of Deco, Vitor Baia and Ricardo Carvalho. 

With new additions, including Nuno Valente and Paulo Ferreira, his side quickly marched to the title in his first full season, ending 11 points clear of Benfica with 86 points from 102 – a Portuguese record. 

Mourinho landed the title again the following year but his standout achievement came in Europe. United were victims along the way as Porto stunned the continent by lifting the Champions League trophy.

Talent: 7/10

Success: 10/10

Overall: 8.5/10

Mourinho hugs Nuno Valente after Porto won the Champions League final against Monaco

Mourinho hugs Nuno Valente after Porto won the Champions League final against Monaco

Porto's squad included Deco (top left), Maniche, Dmitri Alenichev and Jorge Costa (L-R)

Porto's squad included Deco (top left), Maniche, Dmitri Alenichev and Jorge Costa (L-R)

 

Chelsea 2004-2007

The Chelsea side Mourinho inherited was in need of some serious work and it got it. While £70m now would not get you one Romelu Lukaku, back then it brought in a stable of big beasts, including the likes of Michael Essien, Didier Drogba and Porto pair Carvalho and Ferreira. 

The top flight was theirs for the first time in 50 years, with a record-setting 95 points and just 15 goals conceded by Mourinho’s machine. Like London buses, another Premier League title arrived the following season but an FA Cup was all to show from a disappointing 2006-07 before the manager departed in September. 

The Champions League remained elusive, but he had delivered six trophies and three years and changed the course of the west London club's history.

Talent: 8/10

Success: 9/10

Overall: 8.5/10

Mourinho, Frank Lampard (left) and John Terry (right) after winning the 2005 Premier League

Mourinho, Frank Lampard (left) and John Terry (right) after winning the 2005 Premier League

Didier Drogba (left), Hernan Crespo (centre) and Arjen Robben celebrate a Chelsea goal 

Didier Drogba (left), Hernan Crespo (centre) and Arjen Robben celebrate a Chelsea goal 

 

Inter Milan 2008-2010

Mourinho had nowhere near the resources at Inter that he enjoyed at Chelsea but again, was instantly successful. In his first season, with only Ricardo Quaresma, Sulley Muntari and Mancini added to the ranks, his new employers lifted Serie A by 10 points, although an early Champions League knockout at the hands of United took some of the shine away. 

Another rebuilding job saw the arrival of Wesley Sniejder, Thiago Motta and Samuel Eto’o, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent to Barcelona. Victory in the semi-final of the Champions League over Barca was peak Mourinho, a win for pragmatism over panache. 

After picking up a second Scudetto, Mourinho got his hands on the Champions League trophy for a second time, with a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich sealing a historic treble. Real Madrid had seen enough and came calling.

Talent: 8/10

Success: 10/10

Overall: 9/10

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (centre) and Javier Zanetti (right) starred for Inter under Mourinho

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (centre) and Javier Zanetti (right) starred for Inter under Mourinho

Mourinho lifts the Champions League trophy after Inter beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in 2010

Mourinho lifts the Champions League trophy after Inter beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in 2010

 

Real Madrid 2010-2013

Granted, Mourinho was up against one of the greatest club sides ever seen in Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona but three years at the Bernabeu yielded one La Liga and no European glory. 

This was a side loaded with talent but Mourinho’s relationships with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas grew strained as they struggled in Europe. A year after lifting Real’s first title in four years he was gone, with London calling once more.

Talent: 10/10

Success: 7/10

Overall: 8.5/10

Mourinho's squad at Madrid included (L-R) Angel di Maria, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sami Khedira

Mourinho's squad at Madrid included (L-R) Angel di Maria, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sami Khedira

The Portuguese boss coached Madrid to one La Liga title in three seasons at the Bernabeu

 

Chelsea 2013-2015

Second season syndrome also kicked in here. Willian, Nemanja Matic, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas were the key additions to an aging squad that contained many familiar faces from his previous stint at Stamford Bridge. 

A third-placed finish was followed up with a title but a lack of serious investment saw Mourinho pay the price following a miserable start to 2015-16 in which they lost nine of their first 16 Premier League matches. 

There have been claims, which have always been denied, that the manager had lost the dressing room. Whatever the situation, what unfolded second time around at Chelsea may have been on his mind when he penned those programme notes.

Talent: 8/10

Success: 7.5/10

Overall: 7.75/10

Mourinho crowns Didier Drogba during Chelsea's Premier League title celebrations in 2015

Mourinho crowns Didier Drogba during Chelsea's Premier League title celebrations in 2015

Diego Costa was a crucial member of Chelsea's Premier League title-winning squad in 2015

Diego Costa was a crucial member of Chelsea's Premier League title-winning squad in 2015

 

Manchester United 2016-

It is very difficult to make a case for United’s squad being better talent wise than what Mourinho has enjoyed elsewhere. 

However, the manager clearly likes what he sees on the training ground and, perhaps scarred by relationships turning sour at Chelsea and Real Madrid, he wants to ensure the same thing does not happen at Old Trafford. 

That said, the likes of Paul Pogba and Lukaku are serious players and United look as though they could be well-placed to make a big leap from last season’s struggles. Should second season syndrome strike again, this would arguably be his finest achievement.

Talent: 8/10

Success: 7/10

Overall: 7.5/10

United won the Europa League final last season to earn qualification for the Champions League

United won the Europa League final last season to earn qualification for the Champions League

Mourinho has since added Romelu Lukaku (centre) and Nemanja Matic (right) to his squad

Mourinho has since added Romelu Lukaku (centre) and Nemanja Matic (right) to his squad