Jose Mourinho transfer comments show change in Manchester United philosophy

The writing was on the wall for Jose Mourinho at Manchester United during the Reds' summer tour of the US.

Overall, the mood around the camp is set by the manager and in United's case in 2018, that atmosphere was moody. Mourinho's opinion of the trip was low already.

United's tour line-up was a muddle of different players and did not resemble the squad that was due to take to the field in the Premier League in the campaign to come. Just five men on the tour made more than 20 appearances that season, highlighting how 'weak' the team that faced Club America, San Jose Earthquakes, AC Milan, Liverpool and Real Madrid was.

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Part of the blame for this was due to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. England's lengthy involvement meant that many senior members of the squad were missing and they would be replaced by a higher percentage of youth-level players in America.

But, on several occasions, Mourinho made the case that the boardroom was not giving him the means to invest in the squad. On July 24, the Portuguese manager said on transfers: "One thing is what I would like. Another thing is what is going to happen."

Four days later, Mourinho expanded on those comments: "I would like to have two more players. I think I am not going to have two.

"I think it's possible I am going to have one. It's possible.

"I gave a list to the club of five names a few months ago and I wait to see if it is possible to have one of these players. If it is possible it is possible, if it is not possible it is not possible.

"If it is possible, good, if it is not possible we keep fighting, working and believing in the players that we have."

The relationship between the board and manager on