Manchester United did not evolve under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal - Mourinho

Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho has criticized the club's former managers, saying that United failed to evolve under their watch, describing their tenures as an "empty period" for the club.

Mourinho told the Sunday Times on Saturday that he inherited a Manchester United team with “no evolution”, under former managers, David Moyes and Louis van Gaal who he said oversaw “an empty period” at the club.

United have struggled to replicate the success that saw them become the major force in the Premier League under Sir Alex Ferguson, who guided the club to the last of their 20 top-flight titles in 2013.

Ferguson's successor Moyes was sacked after 10 months in charge while Van Gaal was given the boot in 2016 even though he ended his reign by winning the FA Cup in his second season in charge.

There was an evolution in the other clubs; there was no evolution in this club. In all the areas that make a team successful I think we stopped in time.

That was quite an empty period in the club with no evolution in areas that are important. It was the weight of the past on the shoulders of the players, managers, even boards, even probably owners, because when you are used to win and win and win, and suddenly you stop, it's like a heavy burden.

Today, we have better working conditions, a better medical department, a better analysis department, a better scouting department, a better media department, and in many cases we did it without changing the people, which is quite important.

Since being appointed as manager last season, Mourinho has won two trophies in his maiden season including the Europa League and the League Cup.