“I wanted to show the fans how bad he was, but when i subtituted him, I was accused instead. That same player is still at the club and haven’t improved for one bit”-Jose Mourinho says he was ‘accused of bullying’ at Manchester United after half-time change of a player who is still at the club.

Jose Mourinho has asserted that he was “accused of bullying” during his time at former club Manchester United after making a half-time substitution. Upon succeeding Louis van Gaal in the summer of 2016, the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ achieved success by securing the Community Shield, League Cup, and Europa League in his inaugural season at Old Trafford. Mourinho highlighted guiding United to a runner-up position in the Premier League as one of the best achievements in his career, emphasizing that people were unaware of the behind-the-scenes dynamics.

However, his final season at Manchester United took a negative turn, leading to his dismissal after two and a half years. Mourinho was sacked in the 2018/19 campaign after a challenging start with just seven wins in 17 Premier League games.

During that period, Manchester United lagged behind league leaders Liverpool by 19 points, and Liverpool handed another defeat to Mourinho’s record just two days before his dismissal. Despite subsequent managerial roles at Tottenham Hotspur and Roma, the 60-year-old Mourinho continues to reflect on his eventful stint at Manchester United.

In various appearances on John Obi-Mikel’s The Obi One Podcast on YouTube, Mourinho brought up the club on multiple occasions. He emphasized that he gave “everything he could” during his time at United and shared an incident where he was “accused” of bullying. Recounting the incident, he mentioned changing a player at halftime and facing accusations of bullying.

Mourinho did not disclose the identity of the player in question but referred to his substitution of Nemanja Matic during a game against Southampton in 2015. Recalling the incident, the former Chelsea manager emphasized that he was merely doing everything he could to secure a victory. Mourinho highlighted how the world has changed, both in terms of management and life, citing the example of his decision to bring Matic off the bench during his time at Stamford Bridge. He explained that such decisions were part of coaching and adapting strategies to secure a win, reflecting on the evolving nature of various roles, including being a father, in response to changing times.

You can watch Mourinho’s full discussion about United below:

Mourinho also made a not-so-subtle dig at Ed Woodward, expressing that he would have appreciated working alongside the current CEO, Richard Arnold. He praised Arnold as an amazing person and revealed that he had him as a Commercial Director, not a CEO, during his time at the club. Mourinho expressed his desire to have had Arnold on his side during his tenure, acknowledging the challenges at the club. Despite any regrets, Mourinho emphasized that he gave everything to the club, and the fans are aware of his dedication and love for Manchester United. He recounted a moment when he received applause and cheers from the entire stadium during a Sky appearance, showcasing the appreciation from the fans.