Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho hits out at pundits who failed in management

Jose Mourinho has hit out at pundits who failed during their own spells in management after recent criticism of his Manchester United side.

United rallied to secure a late 3-2 win at Crystal Palace on Monday night, but only after going behind 2-0 against Roy Hodgson’s struggling side.

With United 1-0 behind at half-time, former right back Gary Neville claimed Mourinho’s players were playing as individuals in his punditry role on Sky Sports.

“I’ve never seen a Jose Mourinho team as inefficient as this,” he said. “They’re always efficient teams, they always do things really calmly, they are usually solid in defence.”

Neville, whose only management experience stands at an unsuccessful four-month spell in charge of Valencia, also found fault with club record signing Paul Pogba, claiming everything the midfielder does is “like a YouTube or Instagram video.”

His remarks echoed those of his Sky colleague Graeme Souness, who has been consistently critical of Pogba’s displays this season. Souness, whose managerial career ended following his dismissal by Newcastle United in 2006, also recently wrote that United's season "could not get much worse", what with neighbours Manchester City sitting clear at the top of the Premier League table.

When asked what he made of such criticism, Mourinho appeared to aim a thinly-veiled barb at former coaches who have since moved into the media.

“Some of the guys with an opinion couldn’t resolve their own problems when they were managers, so they are giving opinions like they have solutions for everything but is not like that,” the United manager said.

“They are in a position where they can give opinions about everything,” he added. “Sometimes I read and listen, sometimes I don’t. This week I was more focused on enjoying Champions League and Europa League and preparing my match than be focused on opinions.”

Mourinho has previously hit out at Paul Scholes, Neville’s former team-mate, for similarly criticising his side’s style of play and Pogba’s performances.

After Pogba starred in the 2-0 win over Everton on New Year’s Day, Mourinho accused Scholes of being overly-critical and even jealous of United's club record signing.

“I think the only thing Paul Scholes does is criticise. I don’t think he comments, I think he criticises, which is a different thing,” he said. “Not every one of us has to be phenomenal like he was as a player. That does not mean we all have to be phenomenal.

“Paul [Pogba] tries to do his best all the time. Sometimes he plays very well, sometimes he plays well, sometimes he doesn’t play so well. It’s not Paul’s fault that he has made much more money than Paul Scholes. It’s not Paul Scholes’ fault either, it’s just the way football is.”