Mourinho: McTominay Was A

Mourinho: McTominay Was A

By Joshua Walters

Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been left stunned by Scott McTominay’s performance against Barcelona as he describes the midfielder as a ‘mad dog’.

The 21-year old Scottish was promoted to the first team from the youth side under Jose Mourinho and became the revelation of the side under the Portuguese trainer who was sacked by the club in December 2018 after a poor run.

McTominay was handed a rare start as Manchester United welcomed Barcelona in the first leg quarter-final game last Wednesday, and justified himself by emerging as one of the best performers of the Red Devils who lost 1-0.

“Barcelona was not Barcelona. I think United had one player that was responsible for that because I think Scott McTominay in midfield he was like what I used to call - but when I use this expression it’s obviously in the total positive sense of the word. He was a mad dog."

“Afraid of nobody. Imposing his respect. Pressing really hard with a huge range of movement a huge area of pressing. Pressing higher and creating problems in Barcelona building up then really aggressive on the duels."

After heaping praises on the midfielder, the Portuguese trainer anazlysed the possibility of his former side in the second leg.

“I think it was a missed opportunity for both. I don’t think they were good. Both. So if one of them was better, probably in Barcelona’s case they could kill the tie. Which they didn’t because 1-0 is open.

"And Manchester United is also... Could get a different result. United zero shots on target. Barcelona I think two or three. And what surprised me more with Barcelona is that they didn’t have efficiency on the passing."

Manchester United will battle it out with Barcelona in the second leg at Camp Nou on April 16 in an attempt to overturn the 1-0 deficit.