Featured Image: PA
Jose Mourinho has reportedly gone full blown Ebeneezer Scrooge by scheduling a 4.30pm Christmas Day training session at Old Trafford for his underachieving Manchester United players.
United are currently sitting in sixth place in the Premier League, six points shy of Manchester City in fourth place and the Portuguese manager is set to crack the whip over the festive period in a bid to motivate his charges and avoid further points being dropped.
"Turkey butties on Christmas Day then, lads?" (Image: PA)
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United's fortunes have been revived slightly in recent weeks, with qualification to the next phase of the Europa League secured, a League Cup semi-final spot booked and a victory over Spurs yesterday, yet Mourinho is demanding a lot more, and his plans have not gone down well at Old Trafford.
Hosting the traditional Christmas Day training session at Old Trafford rather than Carrington means more staff will be needed to sort out the pitch and the stadium, with a home fixture against Sunderland taking place on Boxing Day, the day after.
In the past two seasons, Louis Van Gaal gave players Christmas Day off to be at home with their families, although all Premier League teams do usually undertake a light training session during the morning or early afternoon. An evening session, however, is something players apparently wouldn't have even expected as a punishment under Sir Alex Ferguson's regime.
The Grinch that stole Christmas? Mourinho's rumoured plans have apparently not gone down well at Old Trafford (Image: PA)
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One source told The Sun, "Everyone is seriously pissed off. They've never heard anything like it - not even under Fergie.
"All the staff are used to coming in and sorting training out at Carrington but having it at Old Trafford adds a whole new level of organisation and brings more staff in.
"Jose's had a face like thunder at the training ground for most of the season and is clearly not happy with results. Some staff will even have to stay later on to sort out the pitch and stadium for the next day's home game.
"He's effectively cancelled Christmas."
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Whether Mourinho's Grinchian policy bears fruit remains to be seen. Back-to-back away victories over Crystal Palace and West Brom this week may just change his mind.
H/T The Sun
Topics: Christmas, Jose Mourinho, Football, Manchester United