Is Jose Mourinho starting to feel the strain? Now he’s picking fights with players
Alex Ferguson says he would never have criticised individual players in the media but Manchester United’s Portuguese manager has already hit out at two
Jose Mourinho has picked fights throughout his trophy-laden coaching career, typically against soccer authorities, match officials, the media and opposing managers.
Now, he’s increasingly taking on his own players.
The joyless, turbulent opening months of his tenure at Manchester United have been pock-marked with public outbursts against the team in general but also against specific individuals.
England defender Luke Shaw has taken the brunt of it.
Six weeks ago, Mourinho was openly critical of Shaw’s defensive work in United’s 3-1 loss to Watford in the Premier League. On Sunday, Shaw was one of two players – the other being Chris Smalling – criticised by Mourinho for failing to play through the pain for a league game against Swansea.
“There is a difference,” Mourinho said, “between the brave, who want to be there at any cost, and the ones for whom a little pain can make a difference.”