Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has shared insights into his early days under the management of Jose Mourinho, revealing a brutal piece of advice from the Portuguese coach.
Scott McTominay Unveils Jose Mourinho’s Tough Love
In a candid interview with Jake Humphrey on the High Performance Podcast, McTominay discussed the pivotal role Mourinho played in shaping his career at Old Trafford.
Recalling a challenging moment during a training session under Mourinho, McTominay said, “When I first went over, maybe at the start of the 2017 season, I was going over to train with Jose, and there were a lot of lads on international break.
“Refs [in training] are always a little bit biassed to the first team vs the young lads, and I was losing my temper, raising my voice a little bit too much. It’s probably the right thing to do but also the wrong thing to do.
“I was arguing with some of the older players—[Michael] Carrick and [Ashley] Young—and I was just saying, ‘You’re getting all the decisions; no wonder we’re losing.’
“Mourinho spoke to me and said you need them to like you; you can’t make them think you’re a ******. He dressed me down to be fair and said, ‘Who do you think you are? You’ve done nothing.’
“It turned out a couple of months down the line the fitness coach told me Jose was just testing you out, and I knew it. It was nice to hear [positive words] and that he was trying to test the group.’
Welcome to High Performance Manchester United and Scotland player Scott McTominay. 💥
In his first EVER podcast appearance we discuss everything…
What does it really take to be at Manchester United for over 21 years.
How has it really been with fan criticism and opinion… pic.twitter.com/KaiNk2CTmd
— Jake Humphrey (@mrjakehumphrey) January 17, 2024
Jose Mourinho’s Transformative Impact On Scott McTominay
McTominay, who has spent 21 years with Manchester United, emphasised Mourinho’s impact on his career, acknowledging the manager’s pivotal role in giving him opportunities.
The Scotsman stated, “I was lucky he [Jose] came and gave me my chance. I owe him a great deal, and my family love him.
Recalling the time Mourinho left United, McTominay continued, “As he was leaving, I walked into his office. I was gutted. It was hard. This guy meant so much to me and gave me all my dreams, and now he’s gone.
“I just said, ‘Thank you so much for the opportunity. You’ve been a real-life legend for me. Good luck for what you do next.’ We’ve kept in touch since. I’m so grateful for him. The power of self-belief. He instilled that in me.”
McTominay, now a key player under current boss Erik ten Hag, has already scored five Premier League goals this season – no Man United player has scored more.
Meanwhile, Mourinho has been sacked by Roma following a poor run of results, leaving the club placed ninth in Serie A.
SportsLens‘ latest odds suggest a switch to the Saudi Pro League could be on the cards, as well as a return to the Premier League with pressure building on Eddie Howe at Newcastle.
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