‘United players give it their all’

– Jose Mourinho (below) insists his Manchester United players are giving maximum effort, despite repeated criticism by him of their performances.

The 55-year-old United manager claimed any accusation his players were underperforming because they did not like him would be “dishonest”.

Mourinho has been withering in his assessment of their past two league matches, saying his players lacked “heart” after they were held 0-0 at home by Crystal Palace on November 24. He then suggested there were not enough “mad dogs” in his team following last Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Southampton.

There have been reports of dressing room disharmony, with Mourinho reportedly comparing France midfielder Paul Pogba to a “virus” in an angry rant.

Mourinho has declined to comment on the latest reports of a fall-out with Pogba and would not even by drawn on whether he thought the midfielder had played poorly at Southampton.

“The names I gave at Southampton were the names that I chose in a positive way who showed that desire, that fighting spirit, that anger, that pride.”

He would not accept his players were underperforming deliberately.

He suggested players are professional enough to continue to give their best even if they do not get on with the manager.

“If you think a player only plays when, in your words, he is behind the manager, what I have to call these players – or, in this case, what you are calling them – is dishonest,” said Mourinho.

“A football player is paid – and very well paid – to be a football professional.

“What is that? It is to train every day to his limits, to play every game to his limits, is to behave socially according to the nature of his job, is to respect the millions of fans around the world and to respect the club.” – AFP