Manchester United Manager Jose Mourinho ended his pre-Everton news conference by delivering an extremely harsh critique of Luke Shaw. You can watch what he said and read the transcript at this link. Mourinho explained, in extreme detail, all the reasons why Shaw is so far down on the depth chart before the 1-1 draw with the Toffees.
Mourinho certainly did not hold back. After the game Tuesday night, Mourinho delivered yet another blunt, stinging criticism of the young English left back.
“[Shaw] has lots of potential, but the football brain and the professional brain has to be with the talent,” Mourinho said after a match in which he surprised most observers when he inserted Shaw into the game.
“He has to change his football brain. He was doing things in the second half when he was reacting to my voice. If he was on the other side, for sure he would not do it.”
“I was thinking for him and leading his performance. If he was on the other side it would not be the same and at his level it is not possible. He has to improve and we have to help.”
Mourinho has been on the defender all season long; this is obviously nothing new. Despite all the public criticisms, Mourinho insists the back who came to United from Southampton via the richest football contract ever for a teenager still could have a future at Old Trafford.
“I think he has a future here, but Manchester United cannot wait.We need the kids to grow up,” Mourinho said.
“The fantastic body he has to play football, the fantastic physical qualities and technical, but he cannot play with my brain.
“He must accelerate the process. Twenty-one years is old enough to have a better understanding, but his contribution was good to improve the team.
“He goes today in a positive feeling because his performance was positive.”
Luke Shaw has had some issues during his United career. He’s suffered numerous injuries and his ambition and dedication have been called into question on numerous occasions.
Summarizing the extremely news-worthy past few days, Shaw said: “I am loving it here at United, the fans are incredible and have been incredible the last couple of days for obviously what has been going on.”
“But I am keeping my head up and I am going to fight to the last. I am not going to give up. I love this club and I will give everything to be here.
“Obviously with the stuff that has been going on it is hard for me to take because deep down that is not me as a person. Like Jose said, he wants to see me fighting – and I will fight to the last second because I want to be here for the club.
“I want to play for the manager and I want to help this team get back to the top.”
“The fans have been so good to me and, like I said, especially the last sort of two days. That’s why I love them. It is easy for them to see those comments and turn on me, do you know what I mean?
“But the passion they have always shown to me is amazing and something I don’t and won’t forget for a long time because it means a lot to me. I don’t want to let them down and I’ll fight for each and every one of the fans as well.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times and NBC Chicago.com, contributes to Chicago Tribune.com, Bold, WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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