Jose Mourinho shared a sarcastic comment on social media after being reunited with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Chris Smalling at Roma.
The trio worked together during their time at Manchester United, but never appeared to see eye-to-eye.
Mourinho has developed somewhat of a reputation for falling out with star players and creating tension inside the dressing room in recent years, having experienced these issues at Chelsea, United and Tottenham Hotspur.
The 58-year-old has now spent time with Smalling and Mkhitaryan in his new role at Roma and was quick to point out the importance of maintaining strong relationships.
Sharing an image of the former United duo stood near him in training, he included the following caption: "Football is a small world."
Mourinho publicly criticised Smalling and Mkhitaryan during their Old Trafford days and will now have to work to restore a sense of trust.
Discussing Mkhitaryan in November 2017, the former United boss said:
“I was not happy with his last performances. I’m not speaking about one or two, I’m speaking about three, four or five. He started the season very well and after that, step by step, he was disappearing."
Mkhitaryan later opened up on his relationship with Mourinho in an interview last year.
“[My relationship] with Mourinho was the most complicated in my career; he is a winner by nature,” the Armenian told Yevgeny Savin in 2020.
“He wants you to win and you do what he asks you, it is difficult for anyone. There were differences and conflicts, but they did not have a big impact on the hard work we did and the three trophies we won.”
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According to Mkhitaryan, Mourinho even blamed him for some of his bad press towards the end of time with the Red Devils.
“Once Mourinho saw me at breakfast and said to me: ‘Because of you, the press criticises me'.
“I replied: ‘Really, mister? I’m not doing it on purpose'".
Smalling also experienced this side of Mourinho, after being called into question for his injury record during the 2016/17 campaign.
The 31-year-old was missing during United's 3-1 away win over Swansea in November 2016 due to a foot injury sustained the previous month, which didn't sit well with Mourinho.
"Smalling doesn't feel that he can play 100% with his pain. Shaw told me this morning that he was not able to play," he said.
"For the team, you have to do anything.
"There is a difference between the brave, who want to play at any cost, and the ones for whom a little pain can make a difference."
