Manchester United’s defence on Sunday afternoon made for interesting reading.
Phil Jones made his first appearance for Jose Mourinho’s United, as he lined up alongside Marcos Rojo in the centre of defence, while Ashley Young was named at full back.
The back four, while not first choice, did its job for the most part as United ran out 3-1 winners in Swansea.
But Mourinho was not altogether pleased in his post-match interview, expressing a dissatisfaction with two defenders who had ruled themselves out of the game.
“Smalling doesn’t feel that he can play 100 per cent with his pain,” Mourinho said after the game, via Manchester Evening News. “Luke Shaw told me this morning that he was not in the condition to play so we had to build a defensive line.”
With Antonio Valencia and Eric Bailly both long-term absentees, the Portuguese does not exactly have much wiggle room at the back.
And Mourinho went on to explain the difference between being hurt and being injured, suggesting that he wants his players to toughen up a bit and play through the pain barrier if need be.
“In every sport, and I know that in other sports, they play at the highest level, how many times you play and you are not 100 per cent,” he said.
“I have a friend who is a big tennis player and he remembers more the times he played with pain than the times he played without any pain and that is what I mean.
“To compete you have to go to the limits. It is a cultural thing for some. That is not my culture.”
When asked if he expected his players to change their mentality in relation to what warrants a matchday withdrawal, Mourinho was adamant that it was necessary for his side to progress.
“Exactly,” he said. “More than for me, for Man Utd.”
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