Jose Mourinho refutes claims he pushed Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs through Old Trafford exit door

The former Chelsea boss also made a strong defence of his record promoting youth players and appeared to take swipes at Louis van Gaal and Arsene Wenger as he was formally unveiled as United manager.

A variety of other subjects were covered in a bullish press conference at Old Trafford, with the 53-year-old’s assertion that he will be aggressive in his drive for success also standing out.

“I am where I want to be,” said Mourinho. “I am the manager of the biggest club in the UK.”

The long-serving Giggs left United at the weekend after almost 29 years as player and coach. The Welshman had spent two years as assistant boss to Van Gaal, who was sacked in May, but opted not to continue under Mourinho.

Mourinho dismissed suggestions he had been reluctant to work with Giggs, insisting the 42-year-old had decided to leave.

He said: “It is not my responsibility that Ryan is not in the club. The job Ryan wanted is the job the club decided to give me. It is not my fault. Ryan wanted to be Man United manager.

“When you say did I offer him a job, could he be my assistant – he could be what he wanted in the club, but he made his decision. Ryan wants to be a manager.”

Mourinho believes United will get the best out of Rooney if he continues to play as a striker.

In the latter days of Van Gaal’s reign, and with England at Euro 2016, the 30-year-old was deployed with some success in midfield.

But Mourinho said: “It is normal that a player at this age changes a little bit, but there is something that will never change, which is the natural appetite to put the ball in the net.

“So maybe he is not a striker any more, maybe not a No 9 any more, but with me he will never be a No 6. He will never be someone playing 50 metres away from the goal.”

It was not the only time Mourinho appeared to quibble with the methods of Van Gaal, who frustrated fans with a style of play considered ponderous.

“I am more a manager that likes specialists and not so much the multi-functional players, because I am very clear in my approach,” he said.