Sam Allardyce has insisted that Jose Mourinho has only himself to blame by demanding new signings on transfer deadline day, and putting pressure on his players following Manchester United’s 3-2 defeat to Brighton over the weekend. The former Everton boss was a pundit over the weekend with beIN SPORTS and had plenty to say about Mourinho and the reaction of his players. 

Allardyce was quick to identify that Mourinho’s public call to add more players to his squad was going to have an adverse effect on his squad. 

“The issue seems to be that the publicly playing out of the ‘I want more players’ and not getting any more players is maybe having an effect on the whole of the squad at the moment.”

Mourinho was clear about the need to bring in a new central defender towards the end of the transfer window. However, the United hierarchy failed to deliver a player missing out on a host of key targets including Harry Maguire & Toby Alderweireld.

“Those players who were in those positions who were talked about are now thinking, do I have a future at Man United maybe they have to get over that” 

Whilst Allardyce added that the players must also step up and take responsibility for the side, and prove themselves to Mourinho that they are deserving of a starting place in the team. 

“No matter what the manager thought if he was going to get a player in your position or not, your responsibility is to always play your best for the football club with the contract you’ve got.”

“Actually, if that new player comes in to prove to the manager that he’s no better than you are and you play to your exceptional best to keep your place.”

The 63-year-old coach added that he was disappointed by the overall performance of the Man United squad against Brighton, and that any player could be dropped ahead of the Monday evening game against Tottenham. 
“I don’t think anybody at Man United against Brighton could complain too much if they got left out.”