Jose Mourinho reveals key Man United man was 'fish out of water' as Jim Ratcliffe advice clear

Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has opened up on the problems he encountered with the club's football structure during his time at Old Trafford.

Installed as Louis van Gaal's successor in May 2016, Mourinho spent two-and-a-half-years in Manchester, leading the club to three trophies. He won the Community Shield, the League Cup and the Europa League, all in the 2016/17 campaign.

The following season, he guided United to a second-placed finish in the Premier League - an achievement he has often described as one of his best. The Reds were the best of the rest that season, with Manchester City winning the title with 100 points to their name.

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Many believed Mourinho would have done better at Old Trafford had he have been supplied with a better selection of tools, with recruitment decisions often coming in for criticism. Now, more than five years on from his exit, he has outlined what life was like behind the scenes during his tenure.

In particular, he found the relationship with owners the Glazers, and 'fish out of water' chief executive Ed Woodward, unhelpful in his quest to achieve more at United.

"I don't think the media helped me," Mourinho told FIVE, speaking to former United defender Rio Ferdinand. "I don't think it was meant with an intention of hurting; I think it was more that people didn't understand the dimension of the job and the potential difficulties.

"Also, the fact the coach was in a hybrid position because in the years before everything was very, very clear; of course ownership, but also Sir Alex [Ferguson] and David Gill. That was changing and