Mourinho changes Ferguson’s pre-match tradition – report

Jose Mourinho has abandoned Manchester United’s pre-match tradition of players staying overnight at the Lowry Hotel on the evening before home games.

Ferguson introduced the tradition which was honoured by both his immediate successor, David Moyes, as well as Louis van Gaal.

But according to the Daily Mail, Mourinho has ‘placed more trust’ in his players, and is ‘allowing them to stay at home before games at Old Trafford’.

Players are instead expected to travel to the hotel themselves on the morning of the games, before having a pre-match meal and attending a team meeting.

That new format went ahead on the opening day of the season against West Ham, and will be in place once more against Leicester on Saturday.

Chris Wheeler writes:

‘United have been staying overnight at the five-star hotel for more than a decade since Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge, with both David Moyes and Louis van Gaal continuing the pre-match tradition.

‘But Mourinho believes his players will benefit by being at home, and trusts them to prepare for games in the right way without having to report for duty.’

It is added that most players have ‘welcomed’ the change, but that ‘some senior players have expressed reservations’.

‘They’re concerned that it will become too lax and the younger ones might take advantage,’ a source told the Mail.

Reports that said source went by the name ‘Mr M. Carrick’ are unfounded.