United stars ‘stunned’ by Mourinho’s hands-off approach – report

Ian Watson

Jose Mourinho: Observes United training last week

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has surprised his players with his distant approach since taking charge, according to a report.

Mourinho is under fire following a poor run of form that has seen his side win only one game in their last six Premier League matches, with Sunday’s 4-0 thrashing at his former club Chelsea heaping further pressure on the new manager.

The Portuguese coach’s spell at Old Trafford has already been littered with dressing room leaks, and a story in The Times on Tuesday quotes “a source close to a senior United player” saying that the manager’s distant approach has disappointed some of his stars.

Paul Hirst’s story claims Mourinho will often instruct his players at the start of training before returning to his office, leaving assistant Rui Faria in charge of the session. The report says:

Mourinho’s cold approach to his players has also disappointed some United players. Some of them were expecting Mourinho to take a keen personal interest in the, but he has often cut himself off from the squad.

Some feel they would benefit more from a closer relationship with the 53-year -old – particularly after the treatment they received from Louis van Gaal – but Mourinho is said to prefer to keep his distance from the players.

Leaks from within the squad have been a problem at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, with the most recent ones giving the impression of some fragility in the dressing room.

After the defeat at Watford last month, the players were said to have been shocked at the criticism Mourinho had dished out following the 3-1 loss at Vicarage Road.

Reports over the weekend also suggested Mourinho was furiously working to discover the identity of a mole who had been leaking team news before matches.