Mourinho was sacked from his role as United boss after a string of poor results left the club 19 points behind in the title race
He quickly developed a reputation for slating his ex- Manchester United players in public.
But Jose Mourinho has revealed how one player even asked him not to criticise him in front of his fellow teammates.
Mourinho could often be heard laying into his players after a match, as United's form got progressively worse under his tenure.
His negative persona was one of the reasons the United board finally lost patience with the Portuguese boss.
But speaking to Bein Sports , Mourinho spoke of his disbelief at being approached by his player.
Mourinho said: "I had recently one of my players I was just coaching them.
"And when I am coaching on the pitch I want to feel free as I am amongst family. I want to be able to criticise anyone.
"One player said to me ‘please’ - he was very polite, not confrontational, and he told me ‘please when you criticise me, can you do it in private?’
"And I told him ‘private, why?’
'Because of my stature in front of the other players when you criticise me I don’t feel comfortable'."
The former United boss was sacked from his position after two-and-a-half years with the club in December.
Mourinho frequently slated former players Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba, among others - but it is not known who the player was that he was referring to.
But the 55-year-old suggested it was a different process dealing with players in the modern game.
He added: "Nowadays you need to be very smart the way you read your players and their personalities and you try to create the best situation."
Since Mourinho's sacking, United have gone on to win all seven of their competitive fixtures under new boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
culebarca
147
even if it was Pogba it's wrong to tell someone what makes you uncomfortable ?? Jose criticism is harsh indeed in public everywhere that's crazy ..Jose needs to understand things in a very simple .. everyone needs respect especially in public and between friends ..how Jose will feel if Ed criticed him in public for his lack of understanding games and the players he buyed all flopped ? the players need to see the smiling face of there manager ..Jose and them are all under contracts ..Jose should Just knows to make the happy radar than criticism...into my view he only wanted to run man United Bank and move on ...
AjisolaOluwatuyi
53
can we all imagine his statement "when am coaching.... I want to criticize anyone"? Jesus Christ! he never blame himself for the woes he pile on teams. he needs to change his way of life no doubt. he must sure learn about motivation
Pupikostu
49
chaiiiiiii united fans talk toomuch It shows Mourinho is the special one. His records are there for us all to see. No matter what he needs some respect. Toomuch money now in football has made players to think they are morethan coaches. Just like in your job site,when your employer or your boss criticize you or shout at u infront of other staffs ,will u tell him that he should talk to u in private?? pls lets also know that players nowadays too had help to destroyed the football played soomany years back. The attitudes of players are not thesame like d past years.
Nesaiknruy_Legend
37
Wait Jose criticises his own family? so you're telling me Jose turns to little Jose and tells him that "he sucks as a midfielder cos he doesn't have the mentality" while at the dining table at home 😂