Manchester United’s playing style is criticised by adidas

The chief executive of adidas has criticised the playing style of Manchester United under Louis van Gaal.

The sportswear giant reached a £1bn sponsorship agreement with United last summer and will provide the club's kits for the next ten years. However, adidas chief executive Herbert Hainer is not exactly thrilled with the brand of football on show at Old Trafford. "Business with Man Utd is going very well," Hainer told German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung.

"We sell more jerseys than expected, the foreign share is 60 per cent. We are satisfied, even if the actual way of playing of Man Utd is not exactly that what we want to see."

Only 15 goals have been scored at Old Trafford this season - the fewest of all 92 club grounds in English football - but the mood has lifted somewhat after the victory over Swansea on Saturday.

“At last I can write a post feeling that we’ve done our duty during the weekend," wrote Juan Mata in his weekly blog.

“Luckily, I feel that we have started 2016 with energy and that our negative streak (much longer than it should be) has been left behind...

“Many of you have asked about how we felt as the games went by and the team didn’t win. I have to say that our only thought was to work well day after day, stay focused and try to revert this situation.

“In our last game of 2015, against Chelsea, I think everybody saw what I’m talking about.

“There was dynamism, courage and energy although we couldn’t win. Finally, we did it on Saturday against Swansea. You could see how tough it was, but I think we deserved the three points.

“I hope this is going to be the start of a good run of results.”