John Terry has questioned whether Manchester United’s players have big enough characters to thrive under Jose Mourinho.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail’s head of sport Lee Clayton, Terry revealed how Mourinho ‘embarrassed’ him during a training session at Chelsea in the summer of 2005 after winning the Premier League – but his response was to fight hard to win his manager’s approval.

Terry said Mourinho did the same to all of Chelsea’s biggest stars of that hugely successful era, including Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, and that his style brought out the best in them all.

John Terry spoke exclusively to Lee Clayton, Head of Sport for the Daily Mail

Terry questioned whether Manchester United’s players can thrive under Jose Mourinho

TERRY ON NOT WANTING TO RETIRE YET 'Don't get me wrong, if I don't play again I am content with what has been an unbelievable career, but I'm still hungry to go and play if everything around it is right.' To read the full exclusive interview with John Terry, click here. Advertisement

Mourinho’s abrasive approach has seen public bust-ups with Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial among others, while United’s poor start to the season has seen them suffer shocking defeats against Brighton and Tottenham.

Terry, however, still thinks United can enjoy success under his mentor — but only if they show him 100 per cent commitment to the cause.

'At every club he has had big characters and I'm not sure he has that at Manchester United at the moment. At Chelsea, he did,’ Terry told Sportsmail.

'He embarrassed me after one pre-season, after we had won a league title. He stopped the training session, came in, threw down his pad. "If you keep giving the ball away, I will go and buy someone for £50million".

'I am thinking, "I played every game for you last season! And now you're trying to humiliate me!" I didn't understand why he was doing that, but my instinct was to run and give everything; flying into tackles, winning the ball.

Terry revealed how Mourinho ‘embarrassed’ him during a training session at Chelsea in 2005

Terry thinks United can enjoy success under his mentor but only if they are fully committed

'We made eye contact and he grinned. He knew exactly what he was doing — to get the best out of all of us. I have seen him do the same to Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack. Big personalities in the dressing room.

'Does he have the same now at United? You have to stand up and turn up at training every day and show him that you want to win at all costs. If you've got that, he's 100 per cent on your side.

'I do think he'll bring success to United, but it needs patience. My top three for this season will be decided between City, Liverpool and Chelsea. That leaves United and Spurs fighting for fourth.'