Manchester United risk losing their identity under manager Jose Mourinho, according to former Liverpool and Manchester City forward Craig Bellamy.

Mourinho replaced Louis van Gaal last season and guided United to Europa League and EFL Cup glory, but the ex-Chelsea boss and his tactics have been scrutinised following last week’s goalless Premier League draw with Liverpool.

The defensive style used at Anfield did not go down well with football purists, as United nullified Liverpool’s attacking threat, while Mourinho’s men failed to impress in their 1-0 win over Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Bellamy believes United and the club’s fans will only tolerate Mourinho’s approach for a certain period in their pursuit of a first Premier League title since 2012-13.

‘Manchester United are more than titles,’ Bellamy told Sky Sports post-match.

‘As a football club they have an identity that’s worth more than a title. As a club they have a certain way of playing, and as a club they’ve let that go for the time being.

‘Going from winning [the league] on a regular basis, to now coming off it has got them in that much of a panic.

‘Bobby Charlton said it through the years that Mourinho isn’t a Man United type of manager. At the moment, for their desperation to win trophies, to get back to the top, they will bring him in and they will let it go for now, but there will only be a period that Manchester United supporters and Manchester United as a football club will allow this to happen.

‘Manchester United is a huge club, with a huge tradition, and you don’t want to be going too far away from that.’

-This story originally appeared on FourFourTwo.co.za