New Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho says he has always felt a "historical connection" with Old Trafford and believes the stadium will allow him a better connection with fans than Stamford Bridge, the San Siro and the Bernabeu.
Mourinho, 53, had been linked with the United job for some time before taking charge this summer and has said in an interview with adidas Front Row that his affection for the club and its home ground dates back to when he was a youngster.
Mourinho said: "History, nobody can delete, I always say that. And history is amazing. It is not one generation of success, but consecutive generations of success.
"Even as a kid, I was imagining that I could be a top-club manager and I always had this historical connection of Old Trafford being the Theatre of Dreams."
He recalled his first visit to Old Trafford as a manager, when his Porto side memorably eliminated United from the Champions League in 2003-04, saying: "It was exactly a dream for me because it was on the way to winning the Champions League with Porto.
"We scored a goal in the last minute at Old Trafford and made history for myself and my country. So, for me, there was always that connection that anything is possible, it's the Theatre of Dreams.
"I did it with Porto, I won there with Chelsea, I won there with Real Madrid, so why can't I do it with Man United, playing at home with the fans in the stadium behind us? I am waiting for that.
"It's a pity that it's not tomorrow because I'm waiting for that moment."
Mourinho said that there was not the same emotion at any of his previous home grounds, which have included the Estadio do Dragao, San Siro and Bernabeu, as it is only at Old Trafford that he will walk past so many supporters on his way to and from the dugout.
"It's a stadium where you have a 50-metre walk, which is different to my previous clubs," he said.
"In all my previous clubs, the tunnel was connected with the bench. There wasn't that space to feel good or bad feelings, because when things go well you normally feel the good feelings and when things go wrong you feel the bad feelings.
"I think the 50-metre walk will give me a few seconds where I will have the chance to feel it."
Mourinho's first game at Old Trafford since taking charge at United is set to be Wayne Rooney's testimonial against Everton on Aug. 3.
Mourinho, 53, had been linked with the United job for some time before taking charge this summer and has said in an interview with adidas Front Row that his affection for the club and its home ground dates back to when he was a youngster.
Mourinho said: "History, nobody can delete, I always say that. And history is amazing. It is not one generation of success, but consecutive generations of success.
"Even as a kid, I was imagining that I could be a top-club manager and I always had this historical connection of Old Trafford being the Theatre of Dreams."
He recalled his first visit to Old Trafford as a manager, when his Porto side memorably eliminated United from the Champions League in 2003-04, saying: "It was exactly a dream for me because it was on the way to winning the Champions League with Porto.
"We scored a goal in the last minute at Old Trafford and made history for myself and my country. So, for me, there was always that connection that anything is possible, it's the Theatre of Dreams.
"I did it with Porto, I won there with Chelsea, I won there with Real Madrid, so why can't I do it with Man United, playing at home with the fans in the stadium behind us? I am waiting for that.
"It's a pity that it's not tomorrow because I'm waiting for that moment."
Mourinho said that there was not the same emotion at any of his previous home grounds, which have included the Estadio do Dragao, San Siro and Bernabeu, as it is only at Old Trafford that he will walk past so many supporters on his way to and from the dugout.
"It's a stadium where you have a 50-metre walk, which is different to my previous clubs," he said.
"In all my previous clubs, the tunnel was connected with the bench. There wasn't that space to feel good or bad feelings, because when things go well you normally feel the good feelings and when things go wrong you feel the bad feelings.
"I think the 50-metre walk will give me a few seconds where I will have the chance to feel it."
Mourinho's first game at Old Trafford since taking charge at United is set to be Wayne Rooney's testimonial against Everton on Aug. 3.
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