Jose Mourinho admits the Manchester United legends
working in the media can have a significant impact on
the fans' mood but said he would accept their criticism.
Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Rio
Ferdinand are among the former United stars to have
worked in the media in recent years, and many have
offered forthright views during the club's difficulties
since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
While Mourinho has faced little criticism at this stage,
Scholes made headlines this weekend when he told
Sport Witness that Paul Pogba is not worth anywhere
near the money United are expected to pay for him, and
Owen Hargreaves told the Manchester Evening News last
month that the club were "spooked" into hiring the
Portuguese.
Mourinho accepts that the club's former players have the
power to "create a more difficult situation" but said he
was more than happy to welcome them at the club.
"At this club you find legends from five years ago,
legends of 10 years ago, legends of 15 years ago and
legends of 20 years ago," he said in The Sunday Times.
"Their voice becomes very powerful. That is something
you have to understand. When people belong to the club
history, they are different to a normal pundit. You have
to look at them in a different way. You have to be
respectful with these guys.
"They are so powerful in the fans' world that they can
influence positively or negatively. The fans love them, so
when they are positive they can unite and when they are
negative they can create a more difficult situation.
"They are working and have to try to be honest and
independent. So, myself, as Manchester United manager
cannot ask them, 'You belong to our history, you are
here to help.' You have to accept that if they are happy
with the team they can elevate the support; if they are
not happy maybe they can disturb and make things more
difficult.
"I would say to them, 'You are welcome at the training
ground.' Any time you want to give an opinion,
welcome, it is your house, it is your home and you can
be back when you want."
Meanwhile, Gary Neville has dismissed any suggestion he
could take a role on the coaching staff at United, telling
The Sunday Times: "That's not going to happen."