Making furious accusations of a campaign against his team, mastering mind games and ramping up pressure on referees – is Jose Mourinho the new Sir Alex Ferguson?

Last week the two former adversaries broke bread in a Paris hotel and if recent behaviour is anything to go to, Mourinho may well have been picking up tips from the man he calls 'the boss'.

Here Sportsmail looks at why the Chelsea supremo is stepping into the Scotsman's shoes...

Jose Mourinho (right) has similar characteristics to former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson

Mourinho's antics at Chelsea are resembling that of Ferguson's Premier League period of dominance at United

Dark Arts

The rules, Fergie believed, were there to be stretched. His teams became infamous for surrounding referees at the drop of a hat. Any minor detail to gain an advantage was forensically explored.

Early in his first stint at Chelsea, Mourinho asked Graham Poll if he needed anything. The official jokingly replied that the referee's room was not up to much. When he returned to Stamford Bridge he found a flat-screen TV, freshly-tiled new showers and complimentary expensive toiletries.

United became infamous for surrounding referees under Ferguson when decisions went against them

Media masters

If Fergie wanted to lob a hand grenade he would often tell the press to ask him questions about certain issues and then stand back and admire the carnage.

When Mourinho wanted to get something off his chest this weekend he took it a step further – using the sofa on Sky's Goals on Sunday as his soapbox. On a different settee a couple of hundred miles north, Ferguson may well have nodded his approval.

Mourinho asked specifically to be a guest on Sky Sports' show Goals on Sunday to air his recent grievances

The Chelsea manager was not happy with several decisions during Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Burnley

Nemanja Matic (centre) was sent off after reacting to a challenge from Burnley's Ashley Barnes on Saturday

The studs-up tackle from Barnes (centre) infuriated Chelsea star Matic and his manager Mourinho

John Terry and Kurt Zouma restrain a furious Matic after he shown the red card for reacting to Ashley Barnes

Matic was given his marching orders by referee Martin Atkinson and is set to miss the Capital One Cup final

ABC (Anyone but Chelsea)

Sir Alex was the master at creating a siege mentality. He often referred to the ABU (Anyone but United) brigade and was resolute in his belief that everyone who was not a United fan wanted to see them fail. Mourinho is doing similar at Stamford Bridge. The Happy One? Not so much. Even Sky are against them, having the audacity to use the word 'crimes' when examining Diego Costa's various misdemeanours.

Ferguson was brilliant at creating a siege mentality within his squad as they competed for numerous titles

Ruthless

Relationships and loyalty went out of the window with Fergie when old father time caught up with his soldiers. When you're time's up, your time's up. Just ask the likes of Roy Keane, unceremoniously jettisoned out of the club to make way for fresh legs.

Mourinho is not afraid of doing the same and wasted no time in shipping out the old guard when he arrived for his second stint at the Bridge.

Roma defender Ashley Cole (left) was allowed to leave Chelsea on a free transfer by Mourinho last summer

Pressure on referees

Fergie was the undisputed master of manipulating the man in the middle (and his assistants). Never shy of having a word in the fourth official's ear, Fergie time became legendary. If he felt harshly done to, he would make sure the referee would know about it the next time he took charge of a United match.

Mourinho's attack on Martin Atkinson was straight out of the Fergie playbook. It will be interesting to see the official's performance next time he is in charge of a Chelsea match.

Ferguson (left) vents his frustration at fourth official Alan Wiley during their 2009 FA Cup semi-final vs Everton

Mind Games

Ferguson was known as the king of mind games. Who can forget his winding up of Kevin Keegan that led to the former Newcastle manager's memorable meltdown on live television? Mourinho can be less subtle but his attacks on 'specialist in failure' Arsene Wenger and attempts to unsettle title rival Manuel 'Pellegrino' are pure Fergie.

Mourinho (right) has an explosive relationship with Arsenal adversary Arsene Wenger

Agenda

Time and time again Fergie complained of a media-driven agenda against his team of angelic Red Devils. One of his last blasts was over a perceived witch hunt against David de Gea who endured a shaky start following his move from Atletico Madrid.

In January, Mourinho was fined £25,000 by the FA after concocting the idea that some kind of 'campaign' was being led against his own team. Sound familiar? It should.

Ferguson launched a staunch defence of goalkeeper David de Gea (centre) upon his shaky start at United

Winners

Put simply, both are winners. Both crave success. Both are driven and will do what they can to ensure they are the ones celebrating come full-time. Much has been made of Fergie's decision to single out David Moyes, rather than Mourinho, as his successor.

Perhaps that desire to remain top of the pile followed him into retirement.