Jose Mourinho claims he took over Manchester United side which had ‘stopped in time’ and had not evolved from Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013

After Special One replaced Louis van Gaal, most expected glory days to return — but it was soon apparent job was much harder

Andrew Richardson

Published: 19:00, 10 Sep 2017
Updated: 0:48, 11 Sep 2017

JOSE MOURINHO admits he took over a Manchester United side which had "stopped in time".

After he replaced Louis van Gaal last summer and broke the world transfer record to sign Paul Pogba, many expected the 'Special One' to instantly return the glory days to Old Trafford.

Jose Mourinho claims Manchester United had stopped in timeCredit: Getty Images

Jose Mourinho admits there was a lot of work to be done at Old TraffordCredit: PA:Press Association

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However, it soon became apparent that the job on his hands was much bigger than had been anticipated.

And Mourinho claims it's down to the fact United had failed to kick once Sir Alex Ferguson left.

He told The Times: “There was an evolution in the other clubs. There was no evolution in this club.

"In all the areas that make a team successful I think we stopped in time."

Mourinho was quick to clarify that the problem that the issue was not with the fans' ambition or with what happened in behind the scenes — but with targets on the pitch.

He added: "When I say ‘the club’, I say the football team and what surrounds the football team was in trouble, big trouble.

Jose Mourinho secured signings of former players Romelu Lukaku and Victor LindelofCredit: Reuters

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"Not the club at all. Because the club is much more than results — it’s the fanbase.

"It’s the passion around the world, it’s the business, it’s the commercial, it’s the merchandising.

"And a club like Manchester United as a club can be one, two, three, four, five, ten years without winning.

"Manchester United will always be Manchester United and as a club will never be in trouble.

“The football team I think clearly there was an evolution in other clubs, and that was quite an empty period in this club with no evolution in areas that are important for the football team.

"And that was the first step to try to bring the football team in the right direction."

Victor Lindelof arrived from Benfica after being pursued last seasonCredit: Getty

Manchester United finished seventh under David Moyes in 2013-14Credit: AFP

Mourinho believes the players were suffering when he arrived, having suddenly gone from fighting to win the Champions League to merely battling for qualification.

And he insists he targeted trophies above all else in his first season to bring back that winning mentality.

He explained: “Of course in the first season I was trying to improve [this], but I also felt the club need to feed — at least emotionally — the fans, the self-esteem of the players, the motivation of the people.

"And you can’t do that without some success. That’s why I fought hard for trophies.

"And that’s why I prefer a Europa League victory than a third or fourth spot in the championship. "Because the best way to accelerate the process is to do the process winning.

Louis van Gaal spent two years with Manchester United and won FA Cup

Manchester United have not won Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson leftCredit: Getty Images

"Because winning gets you smiles, you get better atmosphere, you create better empathy with the people, you can demand more from the people, you can persuade the people to give more.

"And that was a very successful way of work in the past season, because last season was important, not just to bring the club back to the Champions League, not just by winning something as a very important target."