Jose Mourinho says Man Utd’s younger players lack “character”

Manchester United Jose Mourinho claims the likes of Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford are lacking ‘maturity’.

In an eye-opening interview with Spanish TV channel Univision, the iconic manager says he believes that young players in the game are not as “prepared for life” as players that came through the ranks years ago.

Jose Mourinho takes aim at likes of Shaw and Martial again

1. Shaw has been in and out of the United side under Mourinho, with the United boss criticising his fitness levels and performances in the past.

2. Reports suggested that Martial wanted to leave the club last summer because of his strained relationship with Mourinho.

3. After a disappointing start to the season, Mourinho has had another dig at a group of his younger players.

4. Shaw has established himself as United’s first choice left-back this term, making 15 appearances in all competitions, whilst Martial has scored six goals in his last five matches.

United find themselves in eighth and seven points adrift of the top four and, when asked what his side is lacking this season, Mourinho cited ‘maturity’ and name-checked the likes of Shaw as an example.

“People are maturing more slowly. For example, the young lad Luke Shaw, who is the left-back of the national team, who arrived two years before me. He didn’t know how to compete. He had great potential, yes, but he didn’t know how to compete,” Mourinho claimed.

“We’re talking about Luke Shaw, Martial, Lingard, Rashford – young, big potential, but at the end of the day it results in the word I cannot say, but you use it a lot here.

“Character, personality, as they say in Spain as well, bad blood, that natural aggression that you had.”

It seems the United coach believes that young players need a lot more guidance these days than they did in years gone by.

“They are lacking maturity. Maturity that when you played, I think the youngsters… look at your situation, at my situation.

“I wasn’t a player, obviously, but when I say maturity I mean on a personal level. We were more like men. We were more mature. We were more prepared for life. Let’s say it like that. We were less protected.

“In English they call it ‘spoilt’, ‘spoilt kids’. Our kids are more spoilt than we were by our parents. We are more mature, we are better prepared. For young people now, it’s a different life on a social level compared to ours.

“Today’s players also in their surroundings, they have a word that was used a lot in Barcelona, entorno[environment] that they use in a more global, holistic sense in relation to the club. When I use the word I use it more in relation to a personal environment.

“To the people who surround the players, who protect them too much, who give them – in my opinion – too much care, too many excuses. There’s always an excuse for everything.”

Taken out of context?

Mourinho reacted angrily when asked about these comments when speaking to reporters ahead of Manchester United’s upcoming Premier League clash against Crystal Palace.

When pressed on what he meant, the 55-year-old told a Sky Sports reporter:

“I don’t play your game. I don’t play the game of the ‘take out of context’, and do what you want.

“I don’t play your game and I have nothing to say. I don’t lose my time playing that game. Next question this side, please.”

Whatever was said or meant, this isn’t the first time that Mourinho has openly criticised a number of his Manchester United players. A means of motivation?

The post Jose Mourinho says Man Utd’s younger players lack “character” appeared first on Squawka News.



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