Jose Mourinho says "nice guy" football managers can end up becoming a "puppet" at their club.

The former Manchester United manager was sacked in December and replaced by interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before the Norwegian's appointment was made permanent three months later.

"I don't want to be the nice guy," Mourinho told L'Equipe.

"Because the nice guy, after three months, is a puppet and that doesn't end well."

He added: "When you are almost alone, in that you don't have the support of the club close to you, while certain players go somewhat against the coach, who is the nice guy?"

Former United striker Solskjaer, 46, enjoyed 10 wins in his first 11 games in charge at Old Trafford, but that form dipped dramatically after he took on the role long-term in March.

The Old Trafford side won just two of their last nine league games and finished sixth in the table, outside the Champions League positions.

Mourinho, who guided United to second in the league in 2017-18 season, insists that was his "greatest achievement" at the club and that now "people understand".

In his interview with the French newspaper, he said: "When I say that the second season was fantastic, I say it because the potential and the objectives were met.

"I really squeezed, like an orange, to achieve them."

The 56-year-old Portuguese coach also says the "organisation and ambition" at Old Trafford are part of the club's problems, and that the difficulties did not lie solely with players such as France midfielder Paul Pogba.

Former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss Mourinho and the 26-year-old World Cup winner were regularly reported as having a strained relationship, which included a training ground spat at the start of this season.

"The problems are there: you can say that these are the players, the organisation, the ambition," Mourinho said.

"I only say that I cannot say 'yes' when you ask if Paul was the only one responsible."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48292160

True talk


Ya

Frankly speaking. You have to man up and step on toes to be reckoned with. If the snake does not behave like of snakes people take it for a rope. This is not about football management alone. It is universally applicable.

My Reaction as Liverpool fan when I see a news that has to do with Man Utd

Ehn tuale , baba agbalagba......the destroyer of team unity, chief cause trouble of world football, coach wey dey hug limelight, coach wey camera dey carry pass player...

You can't help but love him....Jose "onijangban" Mourinho...(gbefun)

I hear

Not just managers ,
It also happens in our everyday life ...

The nice guy is always in silent pains

Man UTD gamble and failed big time.Why replaced MOU with dat Ole guy

nothing wrong with being the nice guy, however you have to be selectively nice and know when to be brutal.

U that is not a puppet... did it end well in ur last 3 clubs??

This is a dig at Solksjaer. But it's true

I refuse to be a nice guy. If you hurt me be rest assured that I will hurt you 40 times. Being nice is a weakness.

I was a nice guy all through until I saw myself as Dundee united getting inner pain though I still reserve some,I be baddd guy nau with little things bringing out d nice part of me

United will still get it right.

Mou was the best coach we had after Fergie. As a Man Utd fan, next season would avoid betting for Man UTd to win.

Paul must leave Man U along with other average players that played below average!!!

I just wish the team could be fully reshuffled

I just like this man ideology and philosophy. I use his football philosophies in my daily living. I deal with issues pragmatically based on his approach to football matches.

The controversial one is at it again

The best mind game player i hv eva seen.