He was Manchester United boss between 1981 and 1986 and now Ron Atkinson has claimed Jose Mourinho needs to stop blaming others for the Red Devils’ shortcomings, report the Daily Star.
Vocal in blaming the officials for a foul that was never given against Anthony Martial in a 3-1 loss at Watford on Sunday, Mourinho has always practised this kind of siege mentality but Atkinson isn’t a fan.
“I have never been a huge fan of this siege mentality he brings to his clubs,” said Atkinson.
Prior to Manchester United’s catastrophic run of three defeats last week, Mourinho hadn’t really spoken about referees but Mark Clattenburg’s decision not to send off Claudio Bravo in the Manchester Derby particularly got under the Portuguese boss’ skin.
Having previously taken to Sky Sports’ Goals on Sunday programme to lament Ashley Barnes’ potential leg breaking challenge on Nemanja Matic during his Chelsea spell in 2015, Mourinho has never been shy in confronting referee decisions head on.
However, Atkinson is concerned that Mourinho’s tactics are potentially damaging for what Manchester United stands for as a club.
“It is a global brand and you cannot run it as your personal fiefdom,” continued Atkinson.