JOSE IN A BRAT RACE
Mourinho critical of today’s young players and admits fight to keep up with social media
JOSE MOURINHO admits he is having to work hard to keep up with the “brats” of the Premier League – and to deal with social media.
The Manchester United boss pointed to Frank Lampard, whom he managed at Chelsea, and insisted few players these days are able to match the high standards of the Blues’ all-time top goalscorer.
Mourinho said: “I had to adapt to a new world. To what young players are now.
“I had to understand the difference between working with a boy like Frank Lampard, who, at the age of 23 was already a man, who thought football, work, professionalism, and the new boys, who, at the age of 23, are kids.
“Today I call them ‘boys’ not ‘men’. Because I think they are brats and everything surrounding them does not help them in their life nor in my work.”
United midfielder Paul Pogba turned 24 earlier this month, but has been heavily criticised for his antics on social media while he struggles to transfer his impressive form in Italian football to the English game.
The £89million ex-Juventus star is one of several United players with a strong social media presence.
Last season, Jesse Lingard shared footage of the players cowering in their team bus as it was attacked by West Ham fans ahead of the Premier League game between the two clubs.
Many clubs’ players routinely post individual messages to their fans after games or use their social media accounts to respond to controversy.
Some, such as West Brom’s James McClean this week, use their social media accounts to respond to significant issues in the news.
Speaking to France Football, Mourinho has admitted that, even at a relatively young 54, he has had to adapt to the changes in dressing-room culture – and technology – over the last decade ... so he doesn’t risk being branded a dinosaur.
He added: “I had to adjust to all that. Ten years ago, no player had a mobile phone in the dressing room. That is no longer the case.
“But you have to go with it because, if you fight that, you are bringing conflict and you put yourself in the stone age.
“If you stop a player from doing something, even something stupid, on social media, you are going against nature.
“I admit that having a son and a daughter at that sort of age has helped me understand the way they function and what the world is today.
“I measured, from a methodological point of view, the nature of change. I worked with my assistants to better modify and adapt our work.”