Bastian Schweinsteiger revealed that José Mourinho abruptly banned him from the first-team dressing room at Manchester United without explanation, leading to months of isolation.
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Having enjoyed a decorated career, including multiple Bundesliga titles, Champions League victories, and a World Cup triumph, Schweinsteiger joined Manchester United in 2015 under Louis van Gaal’s management after leaving Bayern Munich.
Despite winning the FA Cup in his debut season with United, Schweinsteiger encountered a frosty reception from Mourinho, who took over from Van Gaal in May 2016.
Recalling the incident on Sky Bet’s Overlap Podcast, Schweinsteiger recounted how upon his return from a successful Euro 2016 campaign with the German national team, he was informed by football director John Murtough that he was barred from entering the first-team dressing room by Mourinho, without any prior warning or explanation.
As a result, Schweinsteiger was relegated to training with the under-16s, feeling completely alienated from the first-team setup. Despite seeking clarification from Mourinho, the explanation provided centered around the perception that Schweinsteiger was unhappy at United due to his rehabilitation period spent in Germany.
Subsequently, Schweinsteiger endured a solitary training routine for three months, supervised by a fitness coach, without any integration with the first-team squad. His appearances for United that season were limited, and he ultimately departed for Chicago Fire in MLS the following year, retiring in 2019.
Mourinho’s tenure at United saw success in the Europa League and Carabao Cup but was marred by controversies and ended with his sacking in 2018. Since then, Mourinho has managed Tottenham Hotspur and AS Roma.
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