Jose Mourinho on his Manchester United squad: This is what Louis van Gaal left me with

JOSE MOURINHO says his management philosophy is very different to his predecessor Louis Van Gaal’s.


And he admits it will be difficult to change the mind-set of his Manchester United players after the Dutchman’s two-year spell.

But he stressed he was not being critical of Van Gaal, who gave him his coaching duties at Barcelona in the late 1990s.

“It will take time. It is correct that my teams are different from Louis Van Gaal’s," Mourinho said.


“I want to make clear that I am not saying mine are better or I have better ideas or my principles are better.

"But, yes, my teams are different to Mr Van Gaal.

“It is a difficult situation to change dynamics. It would be easier for me to have 20 new players and start from zero.

“For two years, they had principles of play that are not mine, clearly.

GETTYJose Mourinho says he is a "different" manager to Louis van Gaal


"But the players are players and without losing their identity, they try to adapt to what the manager wants.

“After two years, there are things in their brain that are automatic and that is difficult to change.

"We are working hard and they are trying everything. We make mistakes and we are far from perfect, but they are giving everything.

"Step by step it will be my team.”