Monday 14 November 2016 12:29, UK
Ander Herrera insists the Manchester United squad are enjoying life under Jose Mourinho and has hailed his manager's straight-talking approach.
United have endured a mixed start under Mourinho, despite spending close to £150m in the summer which included a world record £93.25m transfer fee for midfielder Paul Pogba.
They sit sixth in the Premier League, six points off the top four and eight points behind leaders Liverpool, and reports in the national press have suggested certain members of the United squad are unhappy with Mourinho's methods.
However, Spain international Herrera has rejected those claims.
"We have a saying in Spain: you catch the liar before you catch the lame man," he told the Daily Mail. "It's true in life and even more so in football. If a coach is not straight, players soon find him out. Mourinho is very straight.
"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 could make his Spain debut in the friendly against England at Wembley on Tuesday, having impressed this season under Mourinho.
The 27-year-old, capped at U20, U21 and U23 level, has been occupying a deeper position in United's midfield and feels his new role has helped him to make great strides in his career.
"I have come here because Mourinho has given me the opportunity to take on a new position and I feel comfortable with it," he added.
"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 forward at United which has allowed me to get into the national side."
