Jose Mourinho tells Manchester United stars to ‘grow up’ but exempts Nemanja Matic and Romelu Lukaku
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho says his squad need to ‘grow up’ and live to deal with the expecations of playing for the club but exempted Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic from his criticism.
United crashed out of the Champions League after a humiliating defeat to Sevilla at Old Trafford on Wednesday and the FA Cup is the club’s only remaining opportunity for silverware.
The Red Devils take on Brighton at Old Trafford on Saturday and Mourinho has urged his squad to make amends for the defeat against Sevilla by booking a place in the semi-finals.
However, the 55-year-old used his press conference on Friday to warn his squad that – other than Lukaku and Matic – they need to grow up and take responsibility.
‘If you want to make a real top team, with a top mentality, you need to grow up and the best way is to have this kind of feeling,’ said Mourinho.
‘Players have to learn how to cope with that level of expectation and that level of pressure. They have to survive, and when they survive, they become stronger
‘I said we are not one of the top teams, not one of the favourites to win. I told you that with these words because I cannot tell you with different words while I am still in competition.
‘I cannot be in a competition, go there and say we have no chance. I couldn’t tell you
‘You cannot expect me to say ‘this and that player, they have to do better’. I prefer to say that Matic and Lukaku are performing at a high level until the last match.
‘But I cannot tell you the ones that are not performing. I cannot tell you before a Champions League match.
Mourinho’s men trail Manchester City by 16 points with eight matches remaining and Pep Guardiola’s side could win the title against their neighbours when they host them in three weeks time.
City look a formidable force at home and abroad and Mourinho is warning that United need to outspend their rivals to close the gap next season.
‘We will try but the reality is that some clubs, they were more ready to win,’ said Mourinho.
‘One thing is to go for the jugular and another is to build in a different process. If the clubs that are in a better situation than us and stop investing and we invest then we are side to side.
‘But if they are in a better situation and keep investing same or more, it’s difficult.’
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