Wilkins: Mourinho Must Adapt

Ray Wilkins believes Jose Mourinho will need to adapt his style of play at Manchester United in order to appease the club's supporters.

Mourinho was appointed as Manchester United's manager earlier this month, as the successor to Louis van Gaal, and the former Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea boss was shown around the training facilities for the first time on Monday.

Despite winning three Premier League titles during his two spells with Chelsea, the 53-year-old has received criticism for implementing a perceived negative style of play in his teams, with some pundits suggesting his match tactics will not be able to fit in with Manchester United's philosophy.

And Wilkins, a former Manchester United midfielder who has worked with Mourinho at Chelsea, believes that if the supporters are to be kept onside at Old Trafford, then he must set up his team in a way that will please them.

"He needs to change the way he thinks about his football a little bit. One of the criticisms levelled at Van Gaal was the fact that he was very defensive," Wilkins told Sky Sports Now.

"Possession is fantastic, and Mourinho likes to play that way, but he likes to play with a progression as well. He likes his players to be aggressive, go forward and score."

Wilkins also reckons that even if performances do not completely match the Manchester United way of playing, Mourinho will still deliver results.

He added: "He will change a bit to the way a Manchester United supporter wants them to play and he will bring a winning mentality as well. Wherever he's been he's won. He won't settle for second best."

Credit: Skysports.com