Mourinho claims he was accused of bullying Man Utd star after half-time change
Jose Mourinho was accused of bullying one of his players during his time at Manchester United, the club's ex-manager has claimed.
Mourinho, who has decided against naming the star, was in charge of the Red Devils between 2016 and 2018. He achieved some success at Old Trafford - winning the Europa League, League Cup and Community Shield - but was eventually sacked.
The Portuguese coach's admission is another mark against his relationship with United's players. Roy Keane accused them of throwing Mourinho "under the bus" in 2019 and Scott McTominay recently admitted the dressing room has been "toxic" in recent years.
Yet McTominay also insisted the players are also fully behind current boss Erik ten Hag. United's results will need to pick up if they are to prove the Scotland international's theory, with the team seventh in the Premier League table and out of Europe.
Mourinho made the claim on The Obi One Podcast to demonstrate how much the game has changed since when he first arrived in English football with Chelsea back in 2004. He won three Premier League titles across two spells at Stamford Bridge.
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"When I was at Manchester United, I changed a player at half-time," said Mourinho. "I made a change and was accused of bullying."
Mourinho then compared the incident to when he substituted Nemanja Matic just 28 minutes after bringing him on during their time together at Chelsea. The Serbian midfielder later admitted he "felt terrible at that moment" but remained professional.
Mourinho added: "He (Matic) was on the bench. I put him on minute 45, I take him off around minute 70. That's education, that's coaching. That's doing anything to win. I had to (make the) change. I laugh about these times but it's different times (now).
Mourinho was sacked by United five years ago (Getty Images)"Even to be a dad, you have to be a different dad to how your dad was to you. You have to change according to the world."
Although Mourinho enjoyed some success at United, his players were accused of giving up on him towards the end of his tenure. Keane famously suggested as much during an appearance on Sky Sports and warned Mourinho's successor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
"I'm always intrigued by comments after games when they say, 'We'll be up for the next game'," said Keane. "You're supposed to be up for every game. It doesn't matter whether you're playing for Manchester United or Altrincham.
Mourinho once hooked Nemanja Matic after 28 minutes but thinks the game has changed since then (Getty Images)What do you make of Jose Mourinho's admission? Let us know in the comments below!
"You have to be up for every game of football. I don't fall for this carry on that there will be a brilliant reaction from this set of players. These are the same players that threw Mourinho under the bus and they will do exactly the same to Ole.
"Leopards don't change their spots. There are too many bluffers at this club to get United back to the very top. Even the point that we're chatting about Manchester United trying to finish fourth shows how the standards have changed both on and off the pitch."
Solskjaer was sacked in November 2021 after failing to win silverware at Old Trafford. Ralf Rangnick also failed at United, but Ten Hag ended a six-year trophy drought last term by winning the Carabao Cup. He also guided them back into the Champions League.
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Yet the pressure is now on Ten Hag after United's slow start to the season. His players eased some of that pressure by securing a goalless draw at Liverpool on Sunday.
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