The United manager, who has been staunchly defensive of his tactics at Old Trafford, admits he began his third season in charge with the intention of making his side a more attractive proposition.
He claims this new approach is to blame for United’s chaotic rear-guard this season, which has seen them concede more goals than any other team in the top 14 in the Premier League.
Only Manchester City conceded fewer goals than Mourinho’s side last season, with David de Gea winning the golden glove for the most clean sheets.
But they’ve already conceded 18 goals in 11 games this term – and have only kept one clean sheet in the league. Against Bournemouth, Mourinho admitted his side could have been five or six down after gifting a plethora of chances to their opponents in a 2-1 win.
He claims their porousness at the back is the result of a significant tactical shift that has only highlighted the weaknesses he has been coping with since taking over at Old Trafford.
“Because the approach was much more defensive (last season) and with a much more defensive approach you can hide better your weaknesses,” he said. “So when the team is really defensive and you have a more defensive mind then you base the work on that.
“Then the team doesn’t develop enough in other areas, but the team managed to get results based on that.
“I’m trying to find a balance where we develop the team in the second and first phase of attack and we develop the talented players that we have without losing the balance. When we are in control we have no problems, when the opponent is in control I think the team has problems.”
