Play your games? No way Jose, says Red Devils boss Mourinho
MANCHESTER United boss Jose Mourinho has refused to “play the game” and expand on comments made in a recent interview where he appeared to suggest some of his players lacked character.
Mourinho was quoted by Univision as saying that some of his young players were “without character”, and it was reported that Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford were those he had mentioned in that context.
When asked about the interview yesterday, Mourinho said: “I don’t play your game. I don’t play the game of take out of context and do what you want.”
Mourinho’s response to two further questions on the matter were “I don’t lose my time playing that game” and “next question”.
He was speaking ahead of today’s Premier League home clash with Crystal Palace and said Paul Pogba, who missed the 3-1 loss at Manchester City on November 11 through a “small muscular injury”, was available for the contest.
Romelu Lukaku, Martial, Rashford and Marouane Fellaini are also all ready to be involved after question marks during the international break over whether they would be fit.
Mourinho said Lukaku, who has had a hamstring issue, was “ready, with a little bit of a risk”.
The defeat to City left eighth-place United 12 points behind their neighbours, and seven behind fourth-place Tottenham.