Mourinho questions players’ mentalities

DISMAY: Manager slams United defenders for lacking toughness

JOSE Mourinho has launched a stinging attack on his United absentees — accusing some of lacking toughness.

The Portuguese watched a makeshift side cruise to a 3-1 win at hapless Swansea City and then appeared to take aim at defenders Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling in a withering assessment.

Before the match, Mourinho revealed that he had to build a defence from scratch on Sunday morning after late withdrawals and said the England pair would not play through the pain barrier.

And following the straightforward victory — which piled more pressure on new Swans US boss Bob Bradley — he was at it again.

“There is a difference between the brave, who want to be there at any cost, and the ones for who a little pain can make a difference,” Mourinho declared.

“If I were to speak with the many great football people of this team, they will say many times they played without being 100 per cent. For the team you have to do anything. That is my way of seeing.”

He added: “We have players with problems. To compete you have to go to the limit. It is cultural for some — and this is my culture. More than me, it is Man United.”

While no names were mentioned in his post-match outburst, Mourinho had earlier told MUTV that Smalling “doesn’t feel that he can play 100 per cent with his pain”. He added: “Luke Shaw told me this morning that he was not in the condition to play so we had to build a defensive line.”

The manager then praised Dutch defender Daley Blind saying he had problems “but he put himself available to be on the bench and to try to help the team”.

Following the straightforward victory, secured by a first-half brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a controlled volley from Paul Pogba, Mourinho suggested he needs to change the culture at the club and right ‘a situation that has been going on for a few years’.

“It takes time,” he added.

“But with the help of people like Phil Jones, who was playing without having even trained, Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney, with these people it will not be an impossible mission but a possible mission.” Daily Mail