Manchester United: Jose Mourinho orders players to train at 6.30am - two hours after landing back from China

United took an 11-hour flight from the Chinese capital back to Manchester through the night

Jose Mourinho conducts a training session with his Manchester United players (Getty)

Jose Mourinho ordered his Manchester United players out onto the training pitch at Carrington at 6.30am on Tuesday morning - just two hours after returning on a flight from their tour of China.

The Portuguese adjusted his plans after the International Champions Cup clash against rivals Manchester City at the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing was cancelled with just five hours’ notice.

United took an 11-hour flight from the Chinese capital back to Manchester through the night but had to report for a two-hour training session as soon as they had returned to the country.

With the impromptu session designed to compensate for the lost match time, owing to torrential rainfall in Asia, Mourinho praised his players after training: “They are a great group of boys and the intensity of the session shows they are very professional in their outlook.”

The Independent understands Mourinho has been given final say on future pre-season arrangements after the splintered trip to Asia which has dented his plans ahead of the new Premier League season.

United posted pictures to the 8.25m followers on their official Twitter account @ManUtd this morning as players including David de Gea, Luke Shaw and Wayne Rooney landed in Manchester earlier than expected.

Mourinho’s men can turn their focus to the match against Galatasaray in Gothenburg this week ahead of Rooney’s testimonial match against Everton at Old Trafford on 3 August.

United take on champions Leicester City in the Community Shield the following Sunday at Wembley.