Hull boss Marco Silva: I don't want to be compared to Jose Mourinho

Marco Silva doesn't want to be compared to Man United boss Jose Mourinho

People have been left asking “Marco who?” following his appointment as Hull boss in the wake of Mike Phelan’s sacking last week.

Even members of the Tigers squad had to go online to find out who their new manager was ahead of last weekend’s FA Cup win over Swansea.

Andy Robertson admits he might just be the only person in the team who actually knew who Silva was before he arrived on the scene.

But that’s only because Robertson has a friend who used to play under Silva at one of his previous clubs and filled him in on the up-and-coming Portuguese.

Robertson said: “I spoke to Ryan Gauld, who played under Marco at Sporting (Lisbon), so I am probably one of the only players here to have heard of him!

"Ryan gave me a bit of insight and said the Sporting guys spoke really highly of him.”

For the record, Silva managed Olympiakos to the Greek title last season and also beat Arsenal at the Emirates in the Champions League.

Prior to working in Greece Silva, who is just 39, won the Portuguese Cup at Sporting Lisbon and before that led Estoril into Portugal’s top flight.

Tonight he takes his Tigers to Old Trafford looking to upset his friend Jose Mourinho in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final.

Silva telephoned Mourinho to seek his opinion before accepting the Tigers job and has even been compared to the United boss.

Marco Silva's Hull play Man United in the EFL Cup semi-final

He certainly took a leaf out of Mourinho’s book when facing the media yesterday ahead of a game that could see his name up in lights.

Silva hit back at the critics who have questioned his credentials and showed no signs of lacking self-confidence.

But he doesn’t want to be compared to Mourinho and insists he will do things his own way.

Silva said: “It’s not good. Never it’s good when you compare some different people or coaches - it’s not good.

"I am very happy because Mourinho is a Portuguese coach and what he did in his career is fantastic for him and our country.

"But I am a different person, a different coach. I am a young coach, of course, but what I did in my career I did because I work a lot and I have a lot of ambition to take these steps in my career.

"I will stay here to do the same, and to improve my career and for this to happen I need to improve my team and to get my team playing like I want.

"I have so many things to think about and try to do in this moment and that is all I’m concentrating on right now.

"I don’t want to talk a lot of this situation. What he (Mourinho) did before, not only in Portugal, but what he did here in England and in Italy and Spain, it’s fantastic for him, for the Portuguese coaches - but I need to do my work, only this.”

Mourinho insists rival Silva is not the next ‘Special One’ and that comparisons with him are unfair.

Jose Mourinho says it's not fair to compare Marco Silva and him

"I can see a similar start of career because he was in a small club, Estoril, before he moved to Sporting,” said the United boss.

"I was in a small club, Leiria, before I moved to Porto, so we had a similar start in Portugal.

"He did well and I see him as an intelligent guy with a good attitude. I really wish him well but not a good start - he has to lose three matches (against United).

"I don’t think it is good for Marco to be compared with me. I don’t think it’s good for him. And I don’t think it’s fair.”