Jose Mourinho reacts to Sir Alex Ferguson losing Manchester United ambassadorial role

Jose Mourinho believes the "love and respect" Sir Alex Ferguson has from Manchester United supporters trumps the ambassadorial role he will vacate at the end of the season.

Ferguson's annual £2.165million salary will end next year as part of more cost-cutting measures by Sir Jim Ratcliffe after he invested a minority stake in United last season and assumed control of football operations.

United great Eric Cantona described those responsible for revoking Ferguson's ambassadorial status as "a bag of s**t" but Fenerbahce coach Mourinho said Ferguson did not need the money.

At his pre-match press conference ahead of Fenerbahce's Europa League tie with United, Mourinho said: "My relation with Sir Alex was amazing, incredible, when my Netflix documentary comes out you will know more about the reason why I have so much respect for him.

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"The ambassadorial role, I really don't know that situation. But doesn't matter why, doesn't matter what. Sir Alex has the most important thing: which is the love and respect of every Man United fan around the world. And that is more important than an ambassadorial role, is more important than a few pounds that he can make that he doesn't need.

"The most important thing is the love and respect that every Man United fan has for him."

Mourinho remains United's most successful manager of the post-Ferguson era, having led them to three cup finals, winning the League Cup and Europa League in 2017, as well as their joint-highest Premier League finish of second and best points haul of 81 in 2017-18.

United supporters serenaded Mourinho on his return to Old Trafford as a