New generation an issue for Man United's Jose Mourinho - Patrick Vieira

Patrick Vieira says his former Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho's inability to bridge the generation gap could be the reason behind Manchester United's problems this season.

With United in sixth place in the Premier League, already nine points behind Manchester City in fourth and 13 adrift of leaders Chelsea, Mourinho's men have endured a difficult start to the season.

While acknowledging Mourinho had inherited a difficult situation, New York City FC boss Vieira suggested to RMC that the Portuguese needs to adapt to a new breed of player.

"It's very difficult for him," Vieira, who won the 2008-09 Serie A title under Mourinho, said. "When you arrive in Manchester with the seasons they have had before with [Louis] Van Gaal and [David] Moyes, it's a bit more difficult. I don't know if he's lost the plot.

"I don't think he's changed his philosophy or tactics. I think he's got the same approach, because he's always about confrontation, he's the boss.

"Perhaps his players aren't as receptive, that the generation has completely changed. At Inter, we were quite an experienced group and he handled it well.

"The problem is almost certainly that there is a new generation and the message does not go through as well because there are players who perhaps stand up to him and perhaps aren't afraid to say what they think. That makes things more difficult."

United secured their place in the Europa League knockout stages on Thursday with a 2-0 defeat of Zorya Luhansk,