Ander Herrera has explained that he enjoyed playing under Jose Mourinho at Manchester United due to the aggressive style of play the Portuguese coach adopted.
The Spanish midfielder made 101 appearances during Mourinho's time at Old Trafford, with Herrera registering five goals and 14 assists. The pair won the Europa League, EFL Cup and Community Shield in the 2016/17 season.
While Mourinho often came under criticism from opposition supporters for his win-at-all-costs attitude during his time in the Premier League, Herrera has insisted that the 59-year-old - who is currently in charge of Italian outfit Roma - is one of the best managers in history.
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After discussing his own game on United's in-house podcast, the Spaniard joked that he and the Portuguese had a similar attitude - which included both of them being a 's***house'.
"He is one of the greatest managers of all time,” said Herrera. "One of the most successful managers of all time. He discovered a new position for me, he made me a more defensive midfielder. In the first season we won three trophies: the Community Shield, the Europa League and League Cup. And we qualified for the Champions League so it was a very successful season.
"I became an important player for him as well. He made me go to the national team as well. That was a key moment in my career. Also with him, I got the fans' Player of the Season award and I am so thankful about our time together.
"He was also a little bit s***house [like me] as a coach so it was a good time [laughs]. It was a different football from van Gaal, from Bielsa, from Valverde. I liked it, I liked to be part of the team, to help the team. That was more counter-attack football, a counter-attack team, but after that, at the end of the season, we won three trophies and qualified for the Champions League. It is not bad."
Herrera also discussed Mourinho's infamous 'three fingers' celebration following the Reds' Europa League triumph in 2017. He admitted that he wasn't actually aware that United had just won their trophy of the season.
Asked about that moment in Stockholm, Herrera continued: "Yeah, because we won that title and I didn’t realise that was the third of the season, because the first one was too far away from that moment. But it is not easy. If you see at the end of the season, not too many clubs win three titles in one season.
"It was important overall because we were bringing a European trophy back, against Ajax, which is an important club in Europe, we qualify for the Champions League as well, we were going to play the European Super Cup as well.
"It was an important trophy and I think it was the last of the club as well. This year, I think it will be the year. They have to beat Barcelona in the next tie. I like the team, I like the coach."
United face off against Barcelona in their Europa League playoff tie in the new year. The ties will be played on February 16 and 23, with the first game coming at the Camp Nou.
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