Manchester United's week in Dubai was no jolly, it has been revealed.

The Mirror says manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spent five days in Dubai last week putting the squad he inherited from the sacked Portuguese through “a mini pre-season" after being told by backroom staff that United were being dominated physically by opposition teams.

One of the first messages the Norwegian delivered after taking over was that there were no excuses for the Old Trafford giants' players being outrun and outfought during the most important 90 minutes of the week.

Some staff members at Old Trafford believe the numbers are proof of how much Mourinho had lost the support of his players.

Others feel that it was a consequence of the negative tactical noose he had thrown on his team. Either way, the stats are a damning indictment of the one-time Special One's reign.