Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho takes a swipe at Louis van Gaal saying ‘goalkeepers should never be a club’s Player of the Year’
Special One is happy David De Gea is making key saves but hopes he never wins the player of the season award again
MANCHESTER UNITED boss Jose Mourinho has taken a swipe at Louis van Gaal saying 'goalkeepers should never be a club's Player of the Year'
During his pre-match press conference for the FA Cup third round clash against Reading, the Special One was asked what he made of David De Gea not grabbing the headlines this season.
Mourinho claimed he was ecstatic his Spanish No1 - who will be rested for the game, with Sergio Romero between the sticks - has been quietly going about his work, slamming the tactics of his struggling predecessor LVG.
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He said: "I think when a goalkeeper is a player of the season, it's because something is wrong.
"Of course I would love goalkeepers to be recognised, to win the golden ball, to be player of season in Premier League.
"Goalkeepers are lonely guys with a different shirt to everybody else.
"When they play phenomenal people forget, when they make a mistake, everyone remembers.
"That’s why I hugged David at the end of the West Ham game because no save, Antonio goal, no three points.
"Season after season the goalkeeper is player of the season, it means that something is wrong.
"Hopefully he's not player of the season this season but hopefully he keeps making important saves for us like he did in last week.
"I think Antonio goal with 25 minutes to go against West Ham. The way they were organised, I think very difficult to get three points."
On the managerial front, Mourinho did have some kind words for Saturday's opposition boss and United club legend Jaap Stam.
He said: “He’s a special player for the history of my club, Manchester United is not different.
“Everyone knows his history, for sure he is going to have a great reception and I am happy with that.
“But I think he prefers I speak about him as a manager… Not a player.
“The biggest compliment I can pay to him is: To play as well as they are, he must be a very good manager.”