Jose Mourinho has warned Manchester United their current squad still contains several players he believed weren’t good enough to help the club win major honours.
The Red Devils turned to Mourinho in the summer of 2016 after parting ways with Louis van Gaal, who had just led them to FA Cup glory.
Mourinho’s United finished sixth in his first Premier League season, but they claimed three pieces of silverware – the Community Shield, EFL Cup and the club’s first-ever Europa League – to ensure the campaign was a success.
During his second season, United lost in the FA Cup final to Chelsea, but finished as runners-up in the Premier League to Manchester City’s centurions – an achievement Mourinho described as one of the best in his esteemed career. After a dismal start to the 2018/19 campaign, United parted ways with the Portuguese boss.
Speaking to his former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel on The Obi One Podcast, Mourinho claimed United’s current struggles are in part due to the make-up of the squad.
“There are still people in that club, and when I say people I mean some players but also some other people that are not players, that are still there when I told [United] after two months: With these people, you are never going to do it. And they are still there,” he said.
Discussing his experiences managing United’s squad, Mourinho added: “At Man United, I changed a player at half-time…his agent was then accusing me of bullying.
“I had to change. I remember these times, and I laugh about these times, but it’s different times.”
Only six members of United’s current first-team squad played under Mourinho during his time at Old Trafford – Victor Lindelof, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay.
Raphael Varane and Casemiro were bought by Mourinho when he was manager of Real Madrid, while he worked with Sergio Reguilon and Christian Eriksen as head coach of Tottenham Hotspur.
Mourinho is currently in charge of Roma, where he has again reunited with former United striker Romelu Lukaku.
What we know
- Jose Mourinho was Man Utd manager between 2016 and 2018
- Portuguese coach won three trophies with Red Devils
- Current Roma boss has warned Man Utd over their current squad.