All is fine

> Matic insists ‘everyone’ at United supports Mourinho

NEMANJA MATIC has insisted that “everyone” at Manchester United is behind Jose Mourinho‘s efforts to turn the club’s fortunes around.

United recorded their worst start to a league season in 26 years on Saturday with their 3-1 defeat to West Ham, a result which has seen pressure on Mourinho intensify.

Mourinho has been critical of his players’ attitude since the start of United’s winless run and, ahead of tonight’s Champions League meeting with Valencia, he claimed some members of his squad “care more than others”.

However, Matic, one of Mourinho’s most trusted players, claimed yesterday that his manager enjoyed the support of the whole club.

“The manager is trying to turn this (around), he is trying to make the team stronger and ready for the next challenge,” the Serbian midfielder said.

“I can say that in the club everyone is giving his best to do better for the team.

“It’s very hard but this is football, this is life. For sure, everyone wants to do better. We know that we didn’t play well the last couple of games. Everyone is trying to resolve this situation.”

Matic said that his own performance in Saturday’s defeat was the worst of his United career so far and revealed that the players have spoken in the days since about how to best reverse their worrying form.

“Everyone has a responsibility. Of course we spoke between us and we know the situation is not good and that we can do better,” he said.

“I expect that tomorrow everyone will give more than in the last game. Not only to give more but to be more concentrated.

“For me, I played one of the worst games since I signed for Man United,” he added. “I look in the mirror and I want to see where I made mistakes and where I can do better. For sure, everyone does the same.”

Matic admitted that United are now under pressure to pick up results but believes such pressure is to be expected when representing a top club.

“Pressure is always there. All my life I play with pressure, also my teammates. We are not scared to play,” he said.

“Everyone is trying to win. Everyone has a big motivation to win against Manchester United. We know that and we have to be ready.

“We were not ready in the last few games. Everyone wants to fight against us but we are not scared to play and I’m sure we will show that in the next few games.”

Mourinho had earlier said that he believes some of his misfiring squad “care more than others” as speculation mounts over whether the Portuguese coach’s time in charge at Old Trafford was coming to an end.

“I think that some care more than others,” said Mourinho. “After 20 years of football, I’m still the kid I was. I’m still naive, but I still don’t believe that a player is not honest.

“Until somebody that was a big professional player says ‘I was a dishonest player’, I will always believe the players are honest players and want to give their best.”

Mourinho also laughed off speculation he has been contacted by former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, the favourite to replace him in the Old Trafford hot seat if Mourinho is dismissed.

A report in The Sun newspaper yesterday claimed Zidane had phoned Mourinho to reassure him the Frenchman isn’t plotting to take his job.

When asked about the story, Mourinho turned the tables on the journalist who wrote the story by telling reporters to ask him whether the story was true and joked his phone had been bugged. – The Independent/AFP