Jose Mourinho rounded on Stewart Downing and other alleged ringleaders as player power prompted Aitor Karanka’s sacking by Middlesbrough.
The Manchester United manager spoke to his former Real Madrid assistant on Thursday after chairman Steve Gibson delivered the news.
‘I know the names,’ Mourinho said when asked about any influence Boro stars had on Karanka’s departure.
Sportsmail revealed Gibson took the decision to remove Karanka after a dispute with Downing, a club favourite who started his career at the Riverside Stadium.