Herrera praises straight Mourinho

Ander Herrera has played down suggestions that the Manchester United players are unhappy with Jose Mourinho's management style.

United have won just five of their opening 11 Premier League games this season and currently sit sixth in the table with some reports claiming the players have questioned Mourinho's methods.

Mourinho has been accused of distancing himself from his players but Herrera insists that is not the case and he has praised the manager for being very straight with the squad.

"We have a saying in Spain: you catch the liar before you catch the lame man. It's true in life and even more so in football. If a coach is not straight, players soon find him out. Jose Mourinho is very straight," Herrera said.

"He says what he thinks and he says it to your face. He says it when it is something we will like, but he also says it when it is something we won't like.

"The team is enjoying the day to day. Training is very dynamic and everything is with the ball so the players never lose concentration - there are no really long sessions or long team talks.

"He really understands what a footballer needs, which is 20 minutes of team talk and then you get down to it."

Herrera has been in good form for United this term and he has been rewarded with a call up to the Spain squad for Tuesday's friendly against England.

The 27-year-old believes Mourinho has contributed to his international call-up.

"I have come here because Mourinho has given me the opportunity to take on a new position and I feel comfortable with it," Herrera is quoted as saying in the Daily Mail.

"I'm more defensive now, playing in front of the back four. I think I have that ability to win the ball back quickly when we lose it. I have taken a leap foward at United which has allowed me to get into the national side."

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