The new season has yet to kick-off, but Graeme Souness is getting in early doors with his criticism of Jose Mourinho.
When Mourinho ended up at Manchester United after Pep Guardiola was appointed Manchester City manager, most expected the pair to continue their feud from their days in La Liga.
However, there was no sign of bad blood between the old foes, and neither City or United were in serious contention for the Premier League title in the second half of the season.
Instead, the main feud of the season was Mourinho v Souness.
Souness made some great points https://t.co/SVX4FqhQNW
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) May 19, 2017
The Sky Sports pundit refused to accept Mourinho’s complaints about fixture congestion, and the United manager hit back in his programme notes before the last Premier League game of the season.
“I have seen in the football media that certain pundits cannot understand why our players are tired,” Mourinho wrote, before insinuating that Souness’ past a Liverpool player and manager was behind his criticism of United.
“A pundit is not honest if they cannot forget their colours or if they try to hide the truth from their audience. It’s not my fault if their managerial career was very poor.”
Mourinho: 'A pundit is not honest if they cannot forget their colours… It's not my fault if their managerial career was very poor.' #MUFC pic.twitter.com/X54x7JyUZP
— Duncan Castles (@DuncanCastles) May 21, 2017
Souness hit back following United’s Europa League final victory over Ajax, criticising the team’s approach under Mourinho.
“They have turned up in Stockholm, and dug out a result playing the kind of football that is not Manchester United, that’s my biggest beef with them,” he said.
“They don’t attempt to get on the ball, and don’t play enough football for me. If you’re one of the big clubs in the world, which they obviously are, you have to play better football. They won’t win the big trophies playing like that, against the better teams they won’t win the big trophies. You won’t win our league playing like that. They don’t play enough football.
Who's getting relegated and who's top of the table? https://t.co/pApNFC34QF
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) May 29, 2017
It seems as though it’ll be business as usual between the pair next season.
Souness has kicked things off again, saying that the only reason United appointed Mourinho was because Guardiola became City manager.
“I didn’t think Mourinho was right for United and I said that from day one,” Souness told Independent.ie.
“But because Pep Guardiola was coming in an Manchester City, the people making decisions at Old Trafford felt compelled to go and get a big name manager and this why they ended up with Jose.”
"I've never seen him run a game" https://t.co/qiH5xft6hE
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) May 26, 2017
The former Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers manager also said United performed below expectations in the Premier League, and “all we got from Mourinho for most of the season was moaning and groaning and excuses.”
Souness and Mourinho should have plenty more to say about each other as the season goes on.
