Jose Mourinho insists he and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have proved their critics wrong by repairing their relationship at Roma this season.
It appeared to be a foregone conclusion that the Armenian would find a new club last summer with his contract running out due to his frosty relationship with 'The Special One' at Manchester United as the Portuguese manager replaced Paulo Fonseca at the Stadio Olimpico.
The midfielder spoke last year about how difficult it was to work under Mourinho when they were at United. Little did he know, the Portuguese was going to be unveiled as his new manager at Roma just weeks later.
But the pair settled their differences as Mkhitaryan penned a contract extension and has gone to be a key player under Mourinho, helping Roma reach the Europa Conference League final.
And Mourinho insists it gives him great pleasure that they have been able to silence the doubters and was quick to remind them that they won three trophies together at Old Trafford, which have turned out to be the club's last three pieces of silverware.
He told Sky Sports : "We won three titles at Manchester United. Unfortunately, the club's last three titles and I say unfortunately because I like the club very very much but we won three titles together so everything went well.
"In the second season together, it was a little bit different. The thing that makes me really happy is as always people try to be negative, saying Mhki and Jose have no chance. He is the type of guy when things go wrong, things never go well again. It was proven exactly the opposite.
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"We were very mature, we were very honest with each other at that time. Even with Mino Raiola, rest in peace Mino, the discussions were very good. I always try and be very honest with the players so I saw my project in Rome needing a player like Mhki. I understood the importance of him in the group in the beginning.
"He is having an amazing season and helping us cope with all the problems we faced as a small squad, one without many options. He was playing everywhere, as a winger, a no.10 and then we had Covid and injury troubles and he played as a central midfielder which he has never been in his life.
"I am so happy Mhki has been able to show that everything is not black and white with me and it is possible that I can have a relationship with a player that was different from the past."
