Mourinho: My players lack heart
Jose Mourinho has questioned the “heart” of his Manchester United players and claimed some will still go out and celebrate despite another dismal showing.
United’s top-four hopes suffered a fresh setback after a goalless draw at home to Crystal Palace that prompted an angry reaction from Mourinho.
He claimed there were players for whom the result would not hurt enough as he threatened to wield the axe before Tuesday’s Champions League tie against Young Boys.
Mourinho warned they will not beat the Swiss champions and will require a result against Valencia in the final group game to qualify for the knockout stage if they fail to show more desire and intensity than against Palace.
Defeat left United 14 points adrift of leaders Manchester City after 13 matches and Mourinho said: “There was not enough intensity, not enough desire, so I think we played a game like one more game and I don’t think the game is one more game.
“There are matches that are special matches and this was the first of eight Premier League games until the end of December and was a game we needed to win.
“My feeling is there was not enough from the heart, we must play with brain, but we must play with also heart and I think there was not enough.
“There are people who have a bad dinner, there are people that will enjoy a nice dinner and there will even be people that will party. I think that’s the way it is.”
Paul Pogba was among several who underperformed, with the midfielder substituted 22 minutes from time. Mourinho said he was prepared to make changes and pick players who show more heart, even if that means losing some quality.
When asked if top-level professionals should be showing more heart, Mourinho replied: “I agree. You cannot change players’ natures dramatically. I have to make choices based on heart.
“We didn’t score goals, so that’s a frustration. Having a match in two days is the good thing. There’s not a long time to be moaning because tomorrow is training.”
Victor Lindelof is likely to miss Tuesday’s match after pulling up with a thigh injury that prompted Mourinho to walk across the Old Trafford pitch to console his defender.