Jose Mourinho has had his critics over the years for the way he has dealt with players. He would argue, of course, that his methods work. And his haul of major silverware backs up this argument.
Now former Manchester United stalwart Phil Neville has defended the Old Trafford manager after he publicly criticised Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling for missing the recent Premier League encounter against Swansea.
Again, his verbal volley ignited discussion about Mourinho’s management style. But Neville, who won a clutch of honours alongside brother Gary during their long spell at the Theatre of Dreams, says the Portuguese coach is spot on in the final analysis.
He said:
“Jose is the right man to bring success back to Manchester United. I think what’s getting on Jose’s nerves is that people are doubting him. How can you doubt a man that has been so successful? That’s what’s getting under his skin.
“And 12 months doesn’t make you a bad manager. Every press conference he has to go and justify his record and tell people his quality. People are doubting whether his bad spell at Chelsea and time at United is the end of Jose Mourinho.
“I think it’s a load of rubbish. Jose is still one of the best managers in world football and I think he’ll prove that at Manchester United. The crowd are with Jose, 100 per cent. I think they liked his comments before and after the Swansea game when he singled out a few players for being mentally weak. It had come to the point where something needed to be said.”