Sharpe takes shot at Mourinho’s ‘dated’ tactics

FORMER Manchester United favourite Lee Sharpe expects Jose Mourinho to face severe pressure from fans next season if he fails to swap “dated” tactics for more exciting football.

United finished second i n the Premier League and runners-up in the FA Cup, but some sections of the support are growing dissatisfied at Mourinho’s tactics.

United were not alone in being blown out of the water by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City but even Tottenham and Liverpool, who finished behind the Red Devils in the standings, proved a greater attacking threat.

And Sharpe, who played for Sir Alex Ferguson’s United side from 1988 to 1996, believes tensions will only rise if Mourinho does not change his approach. “For me it was a pretty disappointing season and not entertaining enough,” he said.

“There are clubs with certain identities and United have never been a 1-0 team that sits back and rests on its laurels.

“You’ve got t he blue side of Manchester under Pep, you’ve got Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool playing some of the best football in the league and United are playing slow, pragmatic, boring and even dated football.

“Maybe it’s time Mourinho reassess things tactically. He’s been one of the most successful managers in the game over 10-12 years, trophies everywhere he’s gone, so I can understand him saying, ‘I’m doing it my way’.

“But times have changed and, if it doesn’t start well next season, he could find himself under pressure.”

Striker Matt Phillips has withdrawn from the Scotland squad.