BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER has revealed his tricky spell at Man United could have been down to Jose Mourinho’s rivalry with Pep Guardiola.
The German legend endured a difficult finale to his Old Trafford career under Mourinho back in 2016-17.
The ex-Bayern Munich star won the Bundesliga with Guardiola before moving to the Premier League.
And the 37-year-old has claimed his frosty relationship with The Special One could have been down to Pep’s influence over his game.
He told the BBC Radio 5 Live: “I didn’t play a lot under (Mourinho) unfortunately, but I still respect him.
“He’s a great coach who has won a lot of trophies. It was a strange and difficult situation, he never really explained why.
“Maybe it was because I played with Pep Guardiola and had played football for Pep Guardiola, who Mourinho doesn’t like.”
Schweinsteiger left the Allianz Arena in 2015 to link up with former boss Louis van Gaal.
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He enjoyed a solid first season with the Red Devils, making 31 appearances in total before Mourinho’s arrival in Manchester.
Things went sour soon after that as Schweini was forced to train with the club’s U23 side.
He made just four appearances in his second season at the club before leaving for MLS action with Chicago Fire.
But the World Cup-winner had kind words for his old gaffer despite the tension in his playing days.
“I actually liked what Mourinho was doing. Of course, the style of play is different, I think that’s why Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) left,”
“It wasn’t so much football, sometimes it was more direct. But he was successful with his teams. It was just a weird feeling (to play under him).”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
