Manchester United recently faced a 2-1 defeat at hands of their arch-rivals Manchester City. The Devils were totally dominated by the Guardiola’s men and were lucky to score the goal, thanks to the howler from Claudio Bravo.

Kevin de Bruyne and Kelechi Iheanacho had put the visitors in front before Zlatan Ibrahimovic was gifted a lifeline. And Mourinho is said to have allowed his players to go for each other at the break.

The Devils started the game on a very dull note as both the wingers, Lingard and Mkhitaryan, failed miserably to assert their authority and that led Mourinho to bring them back to the bench and introduced Rashford and Herrera, who brought the life back, but it was too little too late for the side.

A United source said: “The hairdryer came out for the first time this season, but it had nothing to do with Jose.

“The players could be heard shouting and arguing amongst themselves during the interval. Jose decided to let them blow off steam for a couple of minutes.

“He then quietened the whole situation down and told them they also needed to calm down or the second half could be much worse.

“Goodness knows what it would have been like if Zlatan wasn’t handed that gift.”

United take on Feyenoord in the Europa League in Rotterdam on Thursday.

And boss Mourinho said: “The performances are the deciding factor. Performances are the only way that I can decide.

“So if you are asking me if they are going to play against Feyenoord, then no.

“And it is not to punish them it is just to decide in relation to what I have, and what do I have? Their performances.

“So of course I am going to play other players.”