Manchester United fullback Daley Blind is determined to impress new manager Jose Mourinho for a place in the Red Devils squad for the 2016-17 season.

The former Chelsea and Real Madrid coach was announced as United’s new manager last week after signing a three-year contract with an option to stay at the club until at least 2020.

In a Dutch interview the United fullback expressed his respect towards Mourinho, a man he previously faced while playing for former club Ajax Amsterdam, reports the Manchester United website.

‘I’ve met Jose several times but don’t know him personally,’ Blind said.

‘For example, I played for Ajax against Real Madrid when he was the coach of Madrid, so I saw him then.’

The 26-year-old expressed his excitement to be working with a manager of Mourinho’s calibre and insists on doing his best to impress the Portuguese coach.

‘I think he’s a coach who’s achieved a lot and I’m very excited to work with someone like him. I’m going do my best and work very hard,’ the Dutch international added.

Blind went on to praise the Red Devils performance during the 2015-16 season after keeping the most clean sheets in the Premier League, 18, while conceding the fewest amount of goal.

‘I think I’ve shown I can defend as well as a [natural] central defender in the Premier League,’ he said.

‘If you look at our defending statistics at United, we had the most clean sheets and conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League [35, joint with Tottenham]. That’s something we can be proud of. I played almost every game and that gives me a good feeling.’

Over the course of the 2015-16 season the Dutch fullback has made a total of 56 appearances for United, netting two goals and picking up three assist in all competitions.