Jose Mourinho has said Old Trafford is former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's "house always and forever."
Mourinho was appointed boss at United last summer, succeeding Louis van Gaal who had taken over from David Moyes following Ferguson's exit in 2013.
Ferguson won 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, in 27 years at Old Trafford, and Mourinho has the utmost respect for the Scot.
In the wake of praise from Ferguson for Mourinho's work with the Red Devils so far, the Portuguese said: "I think I shouldn't comment, obviously he is such an important person in the club and obviously means a lot but I don't want to comment.
"I wouldn't comment even if the comments were negative, I have too much respect. Too much respect.
"The support I feel is the support I always felt with him, except when I was a direct competitor and playing against his teams, but I always felt this kind of support. I think he felt the same when I was abroad in Italy and Spain.
"Friends wishing good to each other, supporting each other by a simple SMS that can mean a lot in a certain moment. I think he is very respectful too. He doesn't want to be around, he doesn't want to come many times.
"I think he feels completely free because I told him that this is his house always and forever but just a couple of times he travelled with us on the bus and on the train. He visited us once but we know that this is his club, this is his life and that he is supporting of us."
In December, Mourinho said Ferguson is welcome in the dressing room and at training -- and the Scot has already been to the club's Carrington base several times this season.