International Champions Cup organisers reply Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has cut a frustrated figure throughout Manchester United’s pre-season tour of the United States.

Clearly frustrated at not having a full complement of players available to him on the back of the World Cup, the United manager’s mood has been dour for the best part of a fortnight.

After the defeat by Liverpool at the weekend, Mourinho oddly said he wouldn’t have paid money to watch the match.

However, he’s found an ally in an unusual place after the organiser of the International Champions Cup admitted he understands Mourinho’s criticism of United’s pre-season schedule.

Charlie Stillitano, executive chairman of the ICC’s organisers Relevent Sports, has said that the competition’s format may change in future to avoid the problems it has faced with weakened squads this summer.

“I understand his point,” Stillitano told ESPN. “He wants even his players who have personal commitments to be here.

“I read into that he wants the best for the fans and the best for us and of course the best for him. He wants his full team.

“There are challenges in a World Cup year. It gets later and later, the season seem to get earlier and earlier and it’s really a challenge for everyone. I think he was just voicing that frustration.

“We are looking at changing the format next year, but it’s a bit cyclical anyway. We might tweak the format, but it’s not a World Cup year, everyone is excited to come and I don’t think we will have anything near the same problem.”