The best managers at the biggest clubs all have a great ability to make their players feel a million dollars
Stan Collymore
And Liverpool hero Collymore says players weren’t desperate to join United this summer due to Mourinho’s tendency to chuck his players under the bus.
“That is the reason United didn’t get the big-name central defender they were chasing on deadline day and not, as some have suggested, because they have lost their fizz or their cachet,” Collymore told the Daily Mirror.
“Frank Clark got the best out of me at Nottingham Forest because he let me get away with little things and didn’t come for me all guns blazing, and he knew how to keep me happy.
“Don’t get me wrong, I like managers who do come at you and aren’t afraid to say, “You were bang out of order today, that wasn’t acceptable”.
Man Utd news: Collymore claims United missed out on their transfer targets because of Mourinho (Image: GETTY)
“But at the moment I can imagine United’s players in the changing room every morning saying, “He’s been a right, erm, plonker again on TV… who is he going to turn on next?”
“Luke Shaw cost loads of dough, Anthony Martial was the same, and Pogba too.
“So, with the greatest of respect to Toby Alderweireld, Harry Maguire, Diego Godin or Jerome Boateng, they probably weren’t banging down the door to move to United because they were thinking, “After six games, if things aren’t going well, this fella isn’t going to have a problem throwing me under the bus if he was happy to do it with them”.
“That sort of mentality breeds fear, particularly at a club like United.
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Man Utd news: Jose Mourinho had a frustrating transfer window (Image: GETTY)
“And if you’re afraid to go out and express yourself because the gaffer might ball you out, it can be hell on earth, with 75,000 in the stadium and 500million-odd worldwide, if figures are to be believed.
“The best managers at the biggest clubs all have a great ability to make their players feel a million dollars.
“Sir Alex Ferguson was a master at it, even though he could cut players down as well. Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Zinedine Zidane were the same.
“Zidane would be perfect for United - he has done it on and off the pitch, he smiles, he can put an arm round you and he can dig you out as well.
Man Utd news: Jose Mourinho wanted Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld (Image: GETTY)
“Mourinho, on the other hand, is the one manager who has not been able to get his dressing room fully onside with smiles and laughter at arguably the two biggest clubs in the world in Real Madrid and United.”
United are back in action on Sunday, when Mourinho’s men travel to Brighton.
Red Devils boss Mourinho is desperate to catch Manchester City this season.
Mourinho watched on as Pep Guardiola’s men stormed to the Premier League title last time out.