London - One image haunts Manchester United fans ahead of Wednesday's Champions League football tie against Internazionale: that of Jose Mourinho sprinting down the Old Trafford touchline, coat flapping behind him, arms outstretched, to join his players in celebration by the corner flag.

That was a last-16 game in 2004, and Porto's improbable 3-2 aggregate victory was the first English football had really seen of Mourinho.

He was brash, unpredictable, successful and, as he would later point out, very clearly "not from the bottle. A special one."

Two weeks ago, United comprehensively outplayed Mourinho's Inter at the San Siro - so much so that there was a sense of disappointment that they only managed a 0-0 draw.

All logic suggests a comfortable United victory in Wednesday's second leg, and yet there lurks that nagging doubt, that knowledge that if anybody can inspire a side that was so palpably second best a fortnight ago, it is Mourinho.

He does, after all, retain a remarkable record against United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, having lost only one of 13 head-to-head meetings.

And even in that first leg, there was evidence of the difference Mourinho can make.

United were in almost complete control in the first half, creating three or four presentable chances, and dominating possession with unexpected ease.

Maicon, the attacking right-back, was penned back by Park Ji-Sung, depriving Inter of their main source of attacking width.

That left Patrice Evra, United's left-back, able to advance into midfield at will, giving United an extra man that explains the ease with which they were able to circulate the ball.

At half-time, Mourinho made two decisive changes: firstly, he withdrew the hapless centre-back Nelson Rivas for the experienced Ivan Cordoba, giving added security that allowed holding midfielder Estaban Cambiasso to play higher up the field.

And secondly, he encouraged Javier Zanetti, the right-sided midfielder of the three in the 4-3-1-2, to push wider
(something Cambiasso's advance facilitated), and so block Evra's forward runs.

While Inter didn't suddenly become the better side, they at least made the game more even and restricted United's flow of possession.

It is perhaps Ferguson's fear of a Mourinho tactical masterstroke that led to his outburst this week, suggesting Inter would be defensive at Old Trafford.

"I'll tell you that at Old Trafford Inter will play for penalties," he said.

"There is always that Italian mentality. Even with Argentinians and other foreigners, that remains the idea.

"They will look to suffocate the game for 120 minutes of goalless football.

"But I'm not worried about anything. My players have shown they have what it takes when it comes to penalties. I hope it continues like that."

Even taking the game to penalties would be a triumph for Mourinho, given United's superiority in the first leg.

But what was Ferguson aiming to achieve with those comments? Such is his belief in the power of his "mind-games" that he was almost certainly trying to do something.

Was he trying to goad Inter into attacking? Or bluff them into playing defensively? Or just planting a seed of doubt, making Mourinho question his plans?

For that is the other fascinating aspect of the game: Mourinho and Ferguson play the media game, indulge in psychological warfare, with greater elan than anyone else who has ever coached in the Premier League.

It was presumably to that end that Mourinho made clear at the weekend that he would love Ferguson's job.

Ferguson has shown no signs of slowing down, but he is 67 and United must be giving at least half a thought to who might succeed him.

Victory for Inter on Wednesday would be the perfect job application for Mourinho.

And then he could run up and down that touchline as much as he liked. (dpa)