Monday 1 October 2018 12:38, UK
Some of Manchester United's recent performances have been "appalling" and Jose Mourinho needs to "get a grip" of Paul Pogba, says Dennis Wise.
United's 3-1 defeat at West Ham on Saturday was their third defeat in seven league games and leaves them 10th in the table with 10 points - their worst start to a season since 1989/90.
Speaking on Sky Sports News, Wise believes the players have no excuse for their slow start and has urged them to adapt to Mourinho's tactics.
"There are so many of them you could pick out along with Pogba. Sanchez, Smalling, Lindelof, Martial are not performing," he said.
"Have they got an excuse because a lot of them were in the World Cup? No they haven't when you look at the likes of [Eden] Hazard who has been performing outstandingly.
"I look at their performances and I think it's appalling, some of their performances have not been good enough.
"I watched the game against West Ham and it looked like a testimonial and they sat back.
"They have been asked to play in a certain way and they have to accept that and get on with it. It seems like they go out there thinking 'I don't accept this and I want to play a different kind of way.'
"But if the manager has asked them to play a certain way you play it. The players really do need to look at themselves."
Wise also believes the recent tension between Mourinho and Pogba is not helping and says the Portuguese needs to resolve the issue or the manager's future at Old Trafford will come under further scrutiny.
"There's always questions over the manager, I think because Jose is quite outspoken and he gets frustrated with things when they're not going well for him," he added.
"But you can't always put it down to a manager. Yes, he's responsible for the team that he puts out and motivating the team.
"There has been a lot coming out over Pogba in recent weeks and that creates an atmosphere within the group and it's not nice to have that atmosphere and he's got to sort that out.
"I think it's very important he gets a grip of Pogba, leaves him out or gets him on his side and really gets him to work for him, because it seems like it is really causing a problem for Manchester United at the moment."
