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‘He needs maturity‘

Jose Mourinho reveals Manchester United players are suffering confidence crisis – then tells brainless outcast Luke Shaw to grow up

The Old Trafford boss almost sounded concerned about his players until he hammered the left-back again

JOSE MOURINHO says his players’ confidence is shot to pieces after he publicly humiliated them.

Yet, incredibly, the Manchester United boss dished out yet another roasting to his goal-shy forwards — and labelled Luke Shaw ‘brainless’.

 Luke Shaw was hammered again by Jose Mourinho despite keeping a putting in what looked like a decent performance
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Luke Shaw was hammered again by Jose Mourinho despite keeping a putting in what looked like a decent performanceCredit: Getty Images

Mourinho said: “I could feel some of the boys in trouble with the confidence levels. When confidence is not high the quality of the performance is not easy to improve.”


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Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a late penalty to rescue United’s 20-match un- beaten run.

But ten of those have been draws and Mourinho added: “It is important for confidence not to lose but we need to score goals to win matches.

“We are the second team in the Premier League with most shots — but we are the third worst in relation between shots and the number of goals we score.”

 Mourinho claimed Shaw only looked good because he was guiding him from the bench
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Mourinho claimed Shaw only looked good because he was guiding him from the benchCredit: Reuters
 The former Southampton defender has been accused of being overweight as well as brainless
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The former Southampton defender has been accused of being overweight as well as brainlessCredit: Getty Images

Shaw came on as a sub after clear-the-air talks with the manager over his criticisms this week.

Mourinho said: “It was his body with my brain.

“He was in front of me and I was making every decision for him.

"You know I think he has lots of potential but the football brain and the professional brain also has to be with the talent.

"I think in previous generations, it was more difficult to be a big player, more difficult to be rich after the career.

"In this moment, they are rich when the career starts. It's an easy life for them.

"I think he has to change his football brain.

"I was telling him just now that he was doing things in the second half because he was reacting to my voice.

“If he was playing on the other side, for sure he wouldn't do it because I was not there to think for him.

"He needs maturity and maturity comes with responsibility.

 Shaw suffered a horror leg break early on in his United career and has failed to recapture his form
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Shaw suffered a horror leg break early on in his United career and has failed to recapture his formCredit: PA:Press Association
 Mourinho lurches from praising the left-back one minute to slaughtering him the next
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Mourinho lurches from praising the left-back one minute to slaughtering him the nextCredit: Reuters

"He has talent, I want to help him. I think he has a future here.

"But Manchester United cannot wait. We are 20 matches unbeaten in the Premier League which is not enough because we don't win enough matches.

"We need the kids to grow up!"

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