Gary Neville admits that Man Utd are “painful to watch” under Jose Mourinho

Manchester United are “painful to watch” under Jose Mourinho says former captain Gary Neville. 

United got off to a good start to the new Premier League season with a 2-1 victory over Leicester City at Old Trafford last Friday. However, United were on the back foot for much of the game and surrendered the bulk of possession to their opponents.

United’s flat performance against the Foxes is what fans of the club have come to expect under Mourinho, who has adopted a more cautious approach to games, which are in stark contrast to the attacking style favoured by former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

And Neville, who captained United for over a decade under the Scot says that his former side have become painful to watch under the Portuguese tactician.

“Ajax, Manchester United and Barcelona are the three bastions of European football in terms of style of play. United have always played 4-4-1-1, 4-4-2, with two wide players,” Neville told Bleacher Report. “It’s ingrained in the club. Don’t change, don’t make short-term decisions.

“The fans weren’t happy, the stadium was starting to have empty seats and then they think, ‘right, we need to win’ and they bring in Jose Mourinho, who likes powerful, robust, strong players.

“Out went nearly all those 11 and Mourinho brings in [Romelu] Lukaku, [Nemanja] Matic, Fred, [Eric] Bailly, a wave of players who suit his style.”

Neville continued: “Let’s say Mauricio Pochettino comes in next – he likes hungry 23, 24-year-olds, he likes pushing up the pitch and playing high, he likes players who can press from the front.

“How many Manchester United forwards do you see that run about like the Tottenham [Hotspur] ones? Mourinho is happy to sit back a bit deeper and have a more robust, physical player.

“As a Manchester United fan it’s painful to watch.”

Mourinho v Ferguson

The difference between Mourinho and Ferguson’s approach at United is evident in the team statistics recorded by Ferguson’s side during his last season with the club in 2012/13, and the team statistics from the end of last season.

When United won their 13th Premier League title in 2013 they finished the season with 86 goals, averaging 2.26 goals per game; they conceded 43 goals, averaging 1.13 per game.

Under Mourinho last season, United finished the season with 68 goals, averaging 1.79 per game while conceding only 28 goals, averaging 0.74 goals per game.

The Red Devils were also more active in almost every area of the pitch during Ferguson’s last campaign. They made more crosses, passes, shots on goal and completed more tackles than United did under Mourinho last season.

So, not only were the club more entertaining under the Scotsman, but they were also more successful too. Mourinho will therefore be expected to produce a real challenge to Pep Guardiola this season if he expects United fans to tolerate anymore bore fests at Old Trafford.

Man Utd play Brighton on Sunday.

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