Graeme Souness: Jose Mourinho has alienated Manchester United’s players by moaning about transfer business
The Liverpool legend believes it has become a 'chore' for United's players to work under the Portuguese
Graeme Souness believes Jose Mourinho has alienated his players by constantly moaning about the lack of transfer business completed by Manchester United over the summer.
Mourinho is reportedly on the brink at Old Trafford, with defeat to Burnley on Sunday - which would be the club's third straight loss - potentially seeing the Portuguese sacked.
The similarities with United's season and Mourinho's third campaign in his second spell at Chelsea, when he was sacked in December, have certainly caught the eye.
As in pre-season of his spell with the Blues, Mourinho has criticised United's lack of transfer business, with the Red Devils only signing Lee Grant, the goalkeeper, teenage full-back Diogo Dalot, and Brazil midfielder Fred during the summer.
Mourinho has been most outspoken about the failure of the club to sign a new central defender, despite him pushing for defensive reinforcements since last season.
The Portuguese appeared to be making a point in United's 3-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham, played earlier this week, by choosing to drop Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof - two players signed during his tenure - and instead play Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Ander Herrera, a midfielder by trade, as part of a three-man back-line.
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The decision cost United a result with none of the trio impressing, though Mourinho's point was probably made considering just how impressive Toby Alderweireld - one of the Portuguese's targets - was for Spurs.
However, there is also the belief that Mourinho, having not managed to bring in a centre-back, should now be coaching the players at his disposal to improve, rather than constantly complaining they are not good enough.
The incessant moaning about his defenders is hardly going to instil belief in the likes of Lindelof or Bailly, and Liverpool legend Souness believes such belittling has 'alienated' the players, who are now finding it a 'chore' to work under Mourinho.
In his column, Souness writes: "Mourinho’s managerial method is not about developing players, it’s about buying the finished article and getting it right early, but that has not happened for him this time.
"The players who have come in have not been good enough and he’s spent heavily on them. Of all the clubs in Britain, United pay the highest premium for players. Other clubs know how much money they have, what they’ve paid in the past and take their trousers down. If they want a player, the price goes up by at least 25%.
"By moaning about not getting what he wanted this summer, Mourinho has alienated his players but he is still asking them to give him everything. Particularly in the defeat at Brighton, it all looked like something of a chore for them."