Ferguson: Mourinho will be missed

LONDON, England -- Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has paid tribute to Jose Mourinho following his great rival's departure from Chelsea.

Mourinho took over the Scot's mantle as most successful manager in the English Premier League after winning the title in his first two seasons in charge.

However, the veteran Ferguson fought back last season as United regained their crown, though Chelsea triumphed in the FA Cup final, and both clubs were prepared for another mighty battle this campaign.

But it will be former Israel boss Avram Grant, Chelsea's director of football, who takes the team along with assistant Steve Clarke in Sunday's clash with United at Old Trafford.

Ferguson told United's official Web site: "Jose leaving is a disappointment for the game. I think that he was terrific for football and, of course, for Chelsea.

"I enjoyed the competition with him and I think he brought something fresh and new to our game. I just don't know what I'm going to do with my wine now!

"What has he done? He's been fantastic and brought unparalleled success. It's certainly a challenge for the man that replaces him. At the moment it's Avram Grant, and it's a big test for him.

"I wish Jose well, but that's as far as I want to put it. What happens at Chelsea doesn't matter to us, we've got to focus on our game because it's still the same set of players that we will be facing. And that's a challenge enough for us.

"When you play Chelsea it's always a big game. I don't think it will be a defining moment, but it's important. If you look at the record between the two teams over the last three or four years there is nothing in it. Very few goals are scored. It's always a tight, tight game."

United picked up no new injury worries during the midweek Champions League win away to Sporting Lisbon.

But Ferguson will be without midfielder Owen Hargreaves and full-back Gary Neville, as both England internationals have failed to recover from thigh injuries.

Ferguson hopes Hargreaves will return in next Wednesday's League Cup clash with Coventry, but that match will come too soon for Neville -- who is "seven to 10 days" away from his comeback.

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger -- who has had several high-profile bust-ups with Mourinho -- has also lamented the departure of his Portuguese rival.

"We didn't get on the best but recently it has become better," Wenger told Arsenal's Web site. "That does not hide the fact I respected what he did and the quality of his work.

"He arrived when Chelsea were on the way up; they had a good side already and he did something more and made them winners.

"He deserves a lot of credit for that because it is never easy to win and in England it is maybe more difficult.

"I thought for a while, when he extended his contract, he was on the same way of thinking as I or Ferguson, where we try to impart something over a longer period at the club." E-mail to a friend

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