Mourinho took the Manchester United job last May, replacing Louis van Gaal despite the Dutchman scooping the FA Cup.
He arrived under a cloud after his time at Chelsea had turned sour, being axed just seven months after winning the Blues the Premier League title.
Things were far from straightforward last season – United toiled in the league – but Mourinho still managed to land the Red Devils the EFL Cup and Europa League.
And Mourinho, speaking to reporters, claims he is a better manager now than ever before despite the club’s failure to challenge for the biggest trophies on offer last term.
“I am a much better coach today, precisely because of the different control of my emotions, the way I deal with difficulties. I feel more mature,” he said.
Mourinho’s words about emotions could be interpreted as referring to his time at Chelsea and Real respectively.
The 54-year-old was sacked by the Blues in 2015 with reports suggesting his relationships with the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa had broken down.
And it was a similar story over in Spain, with Mourinho infamously falling out with Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas at the Bernabeu.
Manchester United go up against Liverpool and Benfica when club football returns after the international break.
And Mourinho thinks the Portuguese side will be formidable opponents, more so than the already beaten CSKA Moscow and FC Basel.
“The defeat suffered in Switzerland didn’t change my opinion that Benfica are our main opponent in this group stage of the Champions League,” he added.
“Benfica’s bad start in the Champions League doesn’t change the approach to the double-match that is at the door.
“They are better than CSKA and Basel.”