MAN UP FOR MOURINHO

Matic: Now we need leaders and players who are not scared

NEMANJA MATIC says Manchester United need leaders who are not “scared” for the games that could decide Jose Mourinho’s fate.

Despite lacklustre displays against Wolves, Championship Derby and West Ham last week that plunged United into crisis, the Serbian insists he and his team-mates are trying to give their best for manager Mourinho – even if appearances suggest otherwise.

United face Valencia in the Champions League tonight at Old Trafford then entertain Newcastle on Saturday, and Matic (above, with Paul Pogba in training yesterday) said the time for talking was over.

The defender revealed the players held a dressing-room inquest, but admitted: “I don’t think with talking you can resolve something.

“The leaders need to be on the pitch. The leaders are the players who are not scared to play. We will see now and in the next games who are the leaders.

“For me, if you talk in the dressing room that doesn’t mean anything. Sometimes it can help – but the most important thing is on the pitch.

“Pressure is always there. All my life I play with pressure, also my team-mates. We are not scared to play, everyone is trying to win. And everyone has a big motivation to win against Manchester United.

“We know that and we have to be ready but we were not ready in the last few games.

“Everyone wants to fight against us but we are not scared to play.

“I’m sure we will show that in the next few games.”

United’s efforts against West Ham at the London Stadium on Saturday were condemned as “horrendous” by left-back Luke Shaw and Matic, 30, added: “Of course we spoke between us and we know the situation is not good and that we can do better.

“I expect in the Champions League everyone will give more than in the last game.

“Not only give more but to be more concentrated.”

Mourinho has not been slow to offer criticism of his players, including record buys Pogba (above, sharing a joke with Juan Mata) and Alexis Sanchez.

And Matic said: “In football, every day you have to prove why you are wearing the shirt, especially in the big clubs like Manchester United.

“It doesn’t matter what you won in the past, every day you have to prove you deserve to be on the pitch.”

Mourinho could certainly do with a goal or two tonight from Romelu Lukaku and Marouane Fellaini (left).

Matic said: “The manager is trying to turn this, he is trying to make the team stronger and ready for the next challenge.

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

“We didn’t play well on Saturday but we gave our best in that moment. The game was really bad but everyone has a responsibility for that.

“I don’t believe that any player goes on to the pitch not giving his best. For me, I played one of the worst games since I signed for Manchester United.

“I look in the mirror and I want to see where I made mistakes and where I can do better. Everyone does the same.

“Why we didn’t do well... for sure the manager is going to tell us. He is going to show us some videos where we made mistakes and where we can do better.

“It’s always difficult when you lose the games and don’t collect the points.

“Especially when you play in a big club that wants to win titles and trophies.

“It’s very hard but this is football, this is life.

“When you don’t win a few games in a row there is more tension, we know that. We play for a big club and we will try to do everything to make it better and make our fans happy.

“Now we have a great chance to do that.”