Jose Mourinho making headlines again? Who would have thought it.
The Portuguese manager was far from happy with his players after they lost 1-0 to Brighton last night.
In Romelu Lukaku’s absence, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial started as part of a front three against the Seagulls and clearly failed to impress their boss.
Mourinho launched his latest tirade after the defeat, blasting his bit-part forwards.
“For 10 months I get asked ‘why always Lukaku? Why always Lukaku? Why always this player?'” Mourinho said.
“‘That guy doesn’t have a chance to start, the other one is one the bench.’ You know why now.”
Shots fired from Mourinho.
His choice words are a clear dig at Rashford and Martial, both who have had their first team opportunities limited to mostly cameo appearances from the bench.
Rashford has featured in 33 of United’s league games this season, but made 17 of those appearances from the bench and only finished 90 minutes on six occasions.
It’s a similar case for Martial, who has seen his first team football at Old Trafford reduced this term.
The Frenchman has played 30 of United’s league games this season, making 12 appearances as a sub and has only finished 90 minutes five times.
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In stark contrast to this, Lukaku has played the entire 90 minutes in 30 Premier League games this season, bagging himself 16 goals.
This isn’t the first time that Mourinho has publicly criticised his players in the past.
The United manager has had an ongoing spat with Luke Shaw for some time now, the row elevating to the point where the full-back confronted Mourinho over his unfair treatment.
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Mourinho is treading a fine line with his latest public outburst.
Shaw has been hounded out of Old Trafford, with a move away in the Summer almost a certainty now.
You can make a claim for Martial being surplus to requirements, especially after the arrival of Alexis Sanchez in January.
However, Rashford is a player who must be kept happy.
If this treatment of Rashford continues, United risk upsetting a player who could easily come back to haunt them if he joins a rival.
Mourinho’s obsession with blaming his players after every poor result is something that has to stop.
It’s true that some players respond positively to a metaphorical kick up the a*se, but this crop of United players have already shown that they don’t respond to tough love.
Mourinho’s track record of player spats reads like the rap sheet from hell, especially in comparison to the spirit that Pep Guardiola has forged with United’s noisy neighbours.
Guardiola rarely has a bad word to say about his Man City players in public (not like they’ve given him any reason to.)
I’m sure there have been some heated discussions behind closed doors at the Etihad though.
That’s where those spats have to remain though, away from the cameras and microphones of the press.
There’s no need for Mourinho to persist with embarrassing his players in public, it just doesn’t work.
There you go, Jose, it’s time to be more like Pep.
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