JOSE MOURINHO has put a smile back on the faces of Manchester United’s players after a turgid two years with Louis van Gaal.
The Old Trafford stars were bored rigid by Van Gaal’s repetitive training, with senior players even approaching him to tell him so.
It did not get much better on the pitch, with Van Gaal’s dull possession-based tactics having United fans up in arms.
But Mourinho has started to turn things around by bringing fun back to the Carrington training ground.
Midfield ace Michael Carrick said: “It’s been very good.
“We came in last Wednesday and have done over a week with him now and it’s been enjoyable.
“The sessions have not broken us yet and have not been as hard as you might think!
“There’s been a lot of football and fun at the right times and I think everyone’s enjoying it.
“When you get a new manager, pre-season is always a little bit different because it’s a new personality and new ways.
“But you approach the season as any other and you’ve got to prepare yourself to be ready for the battle.
“That’s what the first few weeks of pre-season are, to get that base of fitness and mentally prepare yourself for the year ahead.”
Carrick, 34, feared he might not be at United this season when he became a free agent after lifting the FA Cup.
But with a decade at the club behind him, which earned him five titles and a Champions League winners medal, Mourinho wanted to keep the England international for his experience.
Carrick said: “I’m delighted to be here.
“I’ve been here quite some time now and I love the place.
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“I’ve still got that drive and desire to be successful and give everything I can, so hopefully this year will be a good one.”
Carrick’s upbeat mood is reflected in the whole squad, who struggled to perform under Dutchman Van Gaal’s regime.
It was the training they dreaded the most, particularly mind- numbing video analysis sessions. Mourinho saw it as his first mission to lift team morale.
The Portuguese takes charge of his first game in a friendly today at Wigan.
United then fly out for a pre-season tour of China on Tuesday.
It is four years since they were last there and winger Jesse Lingard said the players are looking forward to returning.
He added: “We’ve been before and it’s always a great experience.
“The fans there really love the club and it’s good for us to be able to give something back.”
United take on German giants Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai on Friday.
But the big one will be against Manchester City in Beijing’s Olympic stadium the following Monday. Lingard said: “I’ve heard about the Bird’s Nest and it’s supposed to be a great stadium.
“To have a derby abroad is another new experience and we’ll be raring to go.”
The tour will only last eight days, much shorter than some recent adventures.
It was organised by Van Gaal, who was shocked at the scale of the two American pre-season trips he went on.
United have added a match in Gothenberg against Turkish side Galatasaray on July 30.
It will be Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s first game for his new club, back in his home country.
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