Jose Mourinho says he would be 'really sad' if Manchester United's showdown with Liverpool is tarnished by sick chants from fans, but does not fear the personal abuse he faces at Anfield.
The toxic rivalry has resulted in supporters taunting each other over the Munich and Hillsborough tragedies, and Mourinho backed a joint statement from the clubs calling for better behaviour when they meet on Monday night.
His own chequered history with Liverpool while in charge of Chelsea means he will be a target for the Anfield crowd on his first visit there as United manager.
But Mourinho has never been one to shy away from controversy, or hostility, when it comes to facing Liverpool and insists it will not affect him.
'It doesn't make a difference,' he said. 'I go there to play my game, to do my work, to enjoy my work, which I normally do.
'Being Man United manager means something more because we cannot compare the historical rivalry between my previous club and Liverpool, and Man United and Liverpool.
'But I'm looking forward to it. I always like to play at Anfield. I've won many times there, I've also lost. I've won big matches, I've lost big matches, so I cannot say I like to go there because I'm always successful, it's not true.
'I like the atmosphere, normally the characteristics of the matches.'
Mourinho's rivalry with Liverpool dates back to his first season in English football in 2005.
He infuriated Liverpool fans by holding a finger to his lips as Chelsea came from behind to win the League Cup final, then two months later raged against the 'ghost goal' from Luis Garcia that sent the Merseysiders through to the Champions League final.
It was reignited during his second spell at Stamford Bridge when Mourinho rejoiced in Chelsea's role in denying Liverpool the title in 2014.
'I've been in England a long time,' he added. 'Obviously I've never (been involved) in this match but I've played many times against Liverpool and Man United.
'I understand the dimensions of the club and now I understand better two big historical rivals.
'It's just a big match that can be compared to Inter-Milan, Madrid-Barcelona, maybe Porto-Benfica. I like that.
'But the season for me is not about the Anfield match and the Old Trafford match in January.
'The season is about many matches, many points to win, lose and targets to achieve.'
Although Mourinho accepts the hostile atmosphere he and his players face at Anfield, he called on both sets of fans to draw a line when it comes to the human tragedies that have affected both clubs.
Liverpool and United have urged supporters to stamp out 'offensive and discriminatory behaviour', with the sick chants about Hillsborough and Munich leaving a particular stain on this fixture.
'In football we have some football tragedies, if you can say that, which is a big match that you lost, the mistake that some player did, this kind of thing,' said Mourinho, who has lost just two of his 12 Premier League games against Liverpool.
'You can make fun of it in a positive way, but the human tragedy is something much more serious.
'It's the last thing somebody should use on a football pitch because they were really big tragedies — not to forget but to respect.
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