Manchester United news: Jose Mourinho has 'lost the plot' and Zlatan Ibrahimovic is 'a cone', says Christophe Dugarry

The 44-year-old, who now hosts a radio show in France, tore into the United set-up after the 20-time champions of England succumbed to three consecutive defeats

Jose Mourinho appears dejected during the defeat by Feyenoord last week (Getty)

Zlatan Ibrahimović is “a cone” and José Mourinho has “lost the plot” at Manchester United, Christophe Dugarry has said in an offbeat critique of the Portuguese’s fledgling spell in charge.

The former Barcelona striker, who now hosts a radio show in France, tore into the United set-up after the 20-time champions of England succumbed to three consecutive defeats – to City, Feyenoord and Watford – in the space of eight days last week.

The Independent believes that Old Trafford chiefs consider Mourinho as the closest resemblance they have had to Sir Alex Ferguson as a motivator despite the chronic slump in form which threatens to derail their early-season progress.

The former Porto, Chelsea and Real Madrid manager has lashed out at his players following the three-folded dip in fortunes with Luke Shaw, the full-back suffering from a groin strain, coming in for public criticism at Vicarage Road on Sunday.

But Ibrahimović, too, has struggled since the international break after being handed an à la carte holiday during the week away following his retirement from international football in the wake of Sweden’s early Euro 2016 exit.

“Ibra is a cone. People talk about his stats ... but he’s a cone,” Dugarry told the RMC radio station. “When you see Zlatan's matches, it’s not possible to do that. It’s English football, it goes at 2,000 kilometres an hour.”

Reports have suggested that United’s players have been “shocked” at the ferocity of Mourinho’s verbal lashings this month, even in comparison with Ferguson’s famous “hairdryer treatment”, and Dugarry thinks he is losing touch.

The 53-year-old was ignominiously sacked by Chelsea in December last year after becoming embroiled in a succession of high-profile quarrels at Stamford Bridge, most notably with then club doctor Eva Carneiro.

Despite winning La Liga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España, EFL Cup and Premier League medals since, Dugarry believes Mourinho’s last tactical triumph came en route to his second Champions League title with Internazionale in 2010.

“I get the feeling Mourinho’s last tactical success was that Champions League game between Inter Milan and Barcelona,” he continued, citing Inter’s two-legged semi-final success in Europe six years ago.

The Frenchman, who won the World Cup with his country as a player in 1998 and the European Championship two years later, added: “He’s won titles since, but I think he’s lost the plot. He believes he has become more important than the team.

“Tactically, I think he doesn't put anything in place. Apart from the players, who have changed, it’s the same organisation as last season under [Louis] van Gaal. He always blames the referee or their opponents’ good fortune. There is no self-criticism.”