United are in need of culture change

JOSE Mourinho admits he has to change the culture at Manchester United before the club can return to the top of English football.

United claimed a comfortable 3-1 victory at struggling Swansea to secure a first win in five Premier League games and move back into the top six.

But Mourinho, who was serving a one-match touchline ban after accepting two FA misconduct charges, suggested after the game that players had been "influenced by some culture issues" before his summer arrival at Old Trafford.

Mourinho said: "The players believe in me and I believe in the players. That has never been the problem. I want to say they were influenced by some culture issues, influenced by a situation that has been going on for a few years.

DIFFERENCE

"There is a difference between the brave, who want to be there at any cost, and the ones for whom a little pain can make a difference.

"Of course, it is not just the players, it is the players and the people that surround the players."

Mourinho made five changes from the side which had been held to a goalless draw by Burnley in their previous league game. Phil Jones and Michael Carrick made their first league starts of the season with Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling among those missing out.

Mourinho told MUTV before the game: "Smalling doesn't feel that he can play 100 per cent with his pain. Luke Shaw told me this morning that he was not in the condition to play so we had to build a defensive line."

After the game, Mourinho said: "We have players with problems, players on the pitch with problems.

"Every sport - and I know that because I have friends from other sports who play at the highest level - you play when you are not 100 per cent.

"I have a friend who is a big tennis player and he remembers more the times he plays in pain than without any pain.

"That's what I mean, to compete you have to go to the limit.

"It is a cultural thing for some. But that's not my culture. And more than me, Man United's (culture)."

United were 3-0 up inside 33 minutes as Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice to add to Paul Pogba's brilliant strike.

Ibrahimovic had not scored in the league since September 10, but his 609-minute goal drought ended when he drove home low from 20 yards.