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Former Manchester United Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson has described the ongoing standoff between Liverpool Football Club and Coutinho especially in terms of the club's efforts in shaping the player into what he currently is.

Coutinho reportedly issued a transfer request to the club just at the start of the season amidst interest from clubs like Barcelona and PSG.

Liverpool on the other hand initially complained that the transfer request came in too late and did not provide them with enough time to get a replacement and since then have rejected three tangible bids from Barcelona.

Whilst Speaking to the UEFA Elite Coaches Forum in Nyon, Switzerland, the legendary Manchester United manager said: "I think strong management is crucial in this situation. Part of your job as a coach also is to educate your players' character so they have a responsibility to what they're doing.

"Obviously, in some cases, that is changing a bit. It's disappointing because I'm sure that, in the case of Liverpool, they did a very good job in making Coutinho the player he is today.

"So, it's a bit disappointing but you have to deal with it and the transfer window doesn't help in that situation.

"If it closed in July, Coutinho would have continued playing and it would have been gone. The matter would have been over.

"The recommendation we look at is to close the window before the season starts, so everyone knows which players they've got and aren't waiting to see what the first results are going to be."

Sir Alex also used the medium to praise the efforts of current Manchester United Manager Jose Mourinho for his efforts and decisions that led to the club winning the UEFA Europa League last season.

Ferguson believes that Mourinho made the right call to prioritise the tournament and that he deserved to win it.

He said: "I think that the Europa League has taken on arms and legs since they made the decision to let the winner enter the Champions League.

"Jose seized on that and he was playing his best team in every round, right from the start. He deserved to win it because his attitude was first class.

"Once Jose realised he wasn't going to win the league back home in England, his intent of winning the Europa League became greater and greater as each round came along. That was a great achievement."