Mourinho issues instruction to United players at training, but according to one source he often takes a distant approach at Carrington

Manchester United’s players have been stunned by José Mourinho’s hands-off and distant approach at Carrington.

The United manager suffered a crushing and humiliating blow on his return to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, as his team’s shabby defending allowed Chelsea to run riot, claiming a 4-0 win that left them down in seventh in the Premier League, six points behind leaders Manchester City.

It can now be disclosed that some members of the United squad have been surprised by some of the Portuguese’s methods at the club’s training ground at Carrington. According to a source close to a senior United player, Mourinho cuts a distant figure, sometimes leaving his assistant, Rui Faria, to conduct training sessions while he watches from a distance or works in his