Ince blames van Gaal for Mourinho’s problems

Support for beleaguered Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has come from an unusual place, former United midfielder Paul Ince.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, he is quoted as saying:

“It’s tough on Mourinho, because he came in off the back of David Moyes and Van Gaal. Under Van Gaal they went back big time, they went back two years.”

Paul Ince, Manchester United 1989 -1995

Ince also notes that while the two managers who replaced Sir Alex Ferguson were dragging the club in one direction, rivals were making strides in the other

“While Man United were going back, Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool, they were going forwards.

“He had to try to get them up to try just to compete with those teams and it’s been a tough time for him.”

Paul Ince, Manchester United 1989 -1995

Meanwhile, another ex-United star Andrei Kanchelskis weighed in on the club’s situation, and he wasn’t blaming anyone but Mourinho:

“There is clearly tension between Mourinho and certain players, and that has affected the whole dressing room.

“Before the game and at half time, you need to keep a positive mentality in the changing room, but there’s clearly a negative atmosphere that is impacting the players performance and Mourinho has to take responsibility for that.

“Criticising the players in public is unlikely to help that’s for sure.”

Andrei Kanchelskis, Manchester United 1991-1995

Ince made 206 appearances for United between 1989 and 1995, while Kanchelskis played 123 times between 1991 and 1995.