MANCHESTER UNITED boss Jose Mourinho has been backed to continue to stand up for himself amid the criticism he’s received in recent weeks.
Jose Mourinho’s third season at Manchester United has got off to a shaky start with the club eighth in the league, seven points behind joint-leaders Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool.
The Portuguese boss reportedly risked facing the sack if his side didn’t beat Newcastle last time out.
After a nervy start, the Red Devils came from two goals down to win 3-2 and take some pressure off his shoulders.
Mourinho claimed there was a “manhunt” against him after the match and his former striker Ibrahimovic believes some of the criticism he’s received is “personal.”
“Everybody criticises Mourinho and I don’t think it’s because of the results, it’s because of the character, because of the way he is,” Ibrahimovic told Sky Sports.
“I see myself also a little bit in that situation, we have our confidence, we believe in things, we say certain things. In our own way.
“Of course we get the blame, we get criticised more when it is not going good, but when it is going good and we win the satisfaction is bigger than the other ones that are political, think they’re perfect, and want to be no trouble for the media so the media never attacks them.
“That is not us, we are ourselves, we believe in what we do and we do it until the end.
“Some critics I feel personal, some critics are exaggerating, some because of the way he is, some because of jealousy. But all this is part of the circle.
“Mourinho just has to keep being himself, stand up for what he is doing, stand up for what he is.
“He is there because he did it his own way, because he is who he is and don’t change for anybody.
“I am exactly the same, I don’t change for anybody. Everyone out there who thinks they are perfect, they are the biggest problem out there.”
Mourinho has equalled United’s worst start to a Premier League campaign ahead of their match with Chelsea this Saturday (12.30pm).
But Ibrahimovic, who helped Mourinho win the EFL Cup and the Europa League in their first season at Old Trafford, maintains United are in good hands with the 55-year-old in charge.
“Jose is doing a good job, you’re as good as your team,” he added. “There is no coach in the world who can do miracles with a team.
“Of course, results speak for themselves. The results are not on top, it goes bad, sometimes goes better, it’s part of the season.
“But the Premier League is not easy and if someone knows how to win it, it’s him. So like he said himself, more Premier League than all the league’s coaches won together.”
Source:www.express.co.uk