The Portuguese replaced the Dutchman in 2016 and former Red Devils player Arnold Muhren believes the club were in better hands under the 67-year-old
Louis van Gaal was doing a better job than Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, according to former Red Devils player Arnold Muhren.
Dutchman Muhren, who played for United between 1982 and 1985, believes Mourinho is guilty of exaggerating his achievements and evading responsibility for United's struggles since he inherited the role from Van Gaal in 2016.
Mourinho won the Europa League and Carbao Cup in his first season in charge but failed to claim any silverware last season as United suffered an early exit from the Champions League and lost to Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
United are battling in seventh place in the Premier League this term – nine points behind leaders Manchester City, who they face on Sunday – and Muhren believes Mourinho has not faced enough scrutiny for his side's results and style of play.
"Before Mourinho, there was Louis van Gaal. He also wasn't so successful," Muhren told Omnisport of his compatriot, who did win the FA Cup with the club.
"In England, they immediately start to look around to find a better coach but in the end, I think Van Gaal did a better job than what Mourinho is doing.
"Yes, Mourinho won the EFL Cup but that doesn't mean much, even though he pretends it means a lot. But it isn't as important as the FA Cup. And for a club like United, it's not a big deal to win the Europa League final against Ajax. That's not so special, is it?
"They have to win the Europa League, it's not even the Champions League. That says enough.
"The crowd isn't that impressed by the way his Manchester United play. It's not forbidden like that, to park the bus, but it's not attractive to watch.
"I've played at Manchester United and I know they love to play good, attractive football. It's not a big deal if you lose a game but at least you have to lose with good, passionate football.
"The people don't like it when you lose games and Mourinho blames the players, the referee, the fans – he always blames someone."
Mourinho takes his side to Turin on Wednesday to face Juventus in the Champions League.
The Red Devils were beaten 1-0 by Massimiliano Allegri's men last time around in a game which the Italian giants dominated, despite the close scoreline.
Cosklmnpry
263
Dumbest thing one can say. LVG wasn't up against Pep Guardiola's record breaking city or Champions League finalists Liverpool. Back in his time, a team like Leicester city could win the league. Hardly any pl team would make the UCL quarters. Two of the teams are favorites to win the trophy now. And even then, the best he could do was 70 points. Jose collected 82 points last season. Besides, LVG's teams couldn't score goals. Making a comeback was rare. Jose's teams have made comebacks away from home, against some of the best sides in the league. Speaks volumes. Not to forget the results United had against the top 6 last season. That is no joke. One either has to be insane or from the Nederlands to believe that the Dutch manager did a better job than Jose.
Rieabkrtu
224
This is silly. Manchester United didn't just appear in the Europa league final against Ajax, they went through teams first. From the group stages to the final. Other teams which can somehow compare themselves to United like Dortmund and some other UCL eliminated teams entered the competition in the round of 16 and United still proved victorious. Another point to make is that they played more games than any other side across Europe 's top 5 leagues and they still had the legs to keep playing. They were semi finalists in the FA cup that season too
zaciknrs
191
hmmm Human being
Nehlmns
168
Dumbest thing one can say. LVG wasn't up against Pep Guardiola's record breaking city or Champions League finalists Liverpool. Back in his time, a team like Leicester city could win the league. Hardly any pl team would make the UCL quarters. Two of the teams are favorites to win the trophy now. And even then, the best he could do was 70 points. Jose collected 82 points last season. Besides, LVG's teams couldn't score goals. Making a comeback was rare. Jose's teams have made comebacks away from home, against some of the best sides in the league. Speaks volumes. Not to forget the results United had against the top 6 last season. That is no joke. One either has to be insane or from the Nederlands to believe that the Dutch manager did a better job than Jose.
nonsense anybody who can claim jose as a coach must be very sick. it makes me sick. anybody in this life who don't stand by his mistake is hopeless. human being gets better by understanding the short coming... a point hear.. how can he dump man united. boys buy players only to see the can't do better than the ones he openly condemned.. like Tony and Rushford. .. it the high time u let that hogg go.. now who's now wise than the other Woodward or jose who wanted to sell Tony for Sanchez? or William .. all along I liked Van Gall.. used teenage players than tied boys
Mizaklors
150
i don't agree with you van gaal destroyed man united team by sell our big and best players like van p ,chicarito, zaha, and others and start bringing small boys and in mature players
John_Anthony
148
They both are good but in my opinion jose has assembled a better sqaud but van gal was like wenger he was developing the young talents for instance martial was playing better than he is playing but at the end of the day players go managers go but the club stays so all i wish is too see man united dominate other teams who ever the manager is
Davichi
111
It's true that Mourinho has given United two trophies since his arrival, but under Louis van Gaal United was more progressive. Van Gaal was building the team all over again after the unfortunate time of David. He didn't have top players, but he was creating a style of play that made it difficult for teams to score United... although the goals weren't coming yet and he had a very good influence on young stars like Martial, Rashford and Lingard, even Smalling played better back then. Mourinho is too used to ready made players who can get in to the field and perform exactly what he wants... he's not good at building a team, therefore young players tend to suffer under him. United seems to be going up and down under him; no stability, no progression. Although the progression under Van Gaal was slow, I think he would have achieved a lot at United if he was given more time. What is most important now is the future and I believe United needs to get a new coach that can build the team... see what Pep, Klopp and even Sarri are doing. I recommend Zidane.
Cendilmnsy
95
this is surely personal hatred how can someone think winning Europa is nothing please before we hate let's love before we speak let's think before we die we should live
Nesaiknruy_Legend
84
Apart from SAF and Busby, no one was as good as Mourinho as United manager. We troll him from time to time but realistically with what he has, winning a Europa league and finishing 2nd is a miracle. Imagine his backline last year was Young, Valencia, Jones and Smalling and he was second only to City in their best season under Pep....