Jose Mourinho has lost three straight games for the first time since 2002, and reportedly partly blames previous manager Louis van Gaal for Manchester United's recent slump.
Read: Reports: Mourinho To Axe Man Utd Superstar
The Portuguese tactician began his United career with four successive wins, including one over Premier League champions Leicester City to lift the FA Community Shield.
It was the best start by any United manager in the club's history, but the Red Devils have now lost three games in a row.
According to various English publications, Mourinho has placed some blame on Van Gaal's rigid system and approach for the club's recent poor results, which he is said to believe is still stuck in his player's minds.
"Mourinho has told friends he feels the players are still hindered by (Van Gaal's) the rigid style of play," David Anderson of the Daily Mirror said.
"He believes he is having to retrain the players to think for themselves after two years of being stifled by the Dutchman's mental-straitjacket approach."
Similarly, according to the Daily Mail: "Mourinho is becoming increasingly exasperated with his players' failure to take his ideas on board and abandon (Van Gaal's) methods."
However, Mourinho has not publicly shifted any blame on to his predecessor, even though he claimed he would never hide behind words such as "philosophies" – one often used by Van Gaal.
The Portuguese and the Dutchman worked together at FC Barcelona, where Van Gaal made Mourinho his assistant.
The 53-year-old now has the task of leading United back to the top of the Premier League – a task David Moyes and his former mentor Van Gaal failed to achieve after Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Do you think Van Gaal's philosophy and playing style are still influencing United's players? Have your say in the comments section below.
