Jose Mourinho has opened up about Mikel Arteta's decision to sometimes play with up to six central defenders.

Mourinho, a manager who is known for his sometimes defensive style of football, has pointed out Manchester City's success in the Champions League last year as well as Arsenal's challenges for the Premier League title and how a more defensive style of play has worked for clubs.

He told the Telegraph: "Look to Manchester City, look to Arsenal - just to give two examples.

"How many central defenders do they have in the team? Sometimes they have six. As a matter of principle. Then they play in other positions.

"They play right-back, left-back, they play midfield. But they play with five or six central defenders on the pitch. Why? If I am a journalist I would ask the manager. They feel the need for defensive stability and a defensive compactness.

He added: "The way to look at it is thinking how many Champions League years Man City were not successful and the difference in the season they were successful. And I go immediately in one direction – look at the physicality."

Speaking in the same interview, Mourinho said there are still players at Manchester United that he wanted to get rid of six years ago. The Portuguese, who managed United from the summer of 2016 to December 2018, claims the club have failed to move on players he did not think were the right fit.

He said: “There are a couple of players still there I didn’t want five or six years ago. They represent a little bit what I consider not the best professional profile to a club of a certain dimension. But I did my job there. Time always tells the truth. I would love Manchester United to succeed."

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