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Man Utd news: Jose Mourinho was ‘BULLYING’ some players in United squad - Graeme Souness
JOSE MOURINHO was “bullying” some of the Manchester United players during the latter days of his time at the club - and that is why he lost the dressing room.
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That is the opinion of Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness.
Jose Mourinho was sacked as Manchester United manager in December following the 3-1 loss at Liverpool.
There were constant reports of the Portuguese falling out with several members of his squad, most notably midfielder Paul Pogba.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has come in and immediately improved results on the pitch, winning eight of his first nine matches ahead of Sunday’s visit to Leicester.
He’s a big personality, Jose, he would have been bullying some players that didn’t take to that
Souness says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s task was just to get the dressing room back on side and he is not yet convinced he is the right man to be the permanent United boss.
But he admits the players are clearly believing in what the Norwegian says, unlike when Mourinho was at Manchester United.
“Let’s get to the middle of March [before deciding if Solskjaer is the right manager], there’s some big games ahead,” Souness said.
“There’s been no magic to Ole coming in and getting the results that he’s got.
“Basically he has given the dressing room back to the players.
“There was no argument, there isn’t any argument, that United have a fabulous group of players.
“And for me the previous manager was not getting the best out of them.
“He’s a big personality, Jose, he would have been bullying some players that didn’t take to that.
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"Slowly but surely he lost that dressing room.
“I think there is a case of Ole going in there saying ‘there’s the dressing room back guys, you get on with it, I know you’re top players, show me you’re top players’.
“And the players are believing in him, they’re believing that he’s believing in them.
“There’s no magic wand he has walked in there with and waved it to them and said ‘we’re now this’.”