Shaw: You Need Thick Skin To Play Under Mourinho

By Joshua Walters

Manchester United wing-back Luke Shaw has hinted of what it feels like to work under Jose Mourinho and says players need a thick skin to play under the manager.

The Red Devils under-performed as they were held to a barren draw at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday, and Mourinho blamed his charges for 'lacking heart and desire.'

Mourinho also made direct reference to Shaw as he questioned the attitude of some of the young players he inherited at the club.

“You need a thick skin, of course, playing for the manager,” Shaw said at the pre-match press conference to Manchester United's  Champions League match against Young Boys.

“It’s the biggest club in the world and we, as players, need to take what’s said on board."

“I keep saying it, but we need to fight for the team, the manager and the fans and the club,” continued the player who signed a five-year contract extension a few months ago.

“Of course we’re going through a bad stage at the moment, but that’s why I signed my contract because I know good things are coming our way and hopefully that’s sooner rather than later.”

Mourinho hit hard at Shaw, Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard in a recent interview with Spanish TV, and described the four as ‘spoilt kids who lack proper counsel from people close to them.’

Shaw, who suffered Mourinho harsh criticisms for two years before improving to become a Manchester United regular, said the manager’s views are peculiar with modern players and not just him or his teammates.

“What he said the other day, that was more a generational thing, I don’t think it was really aimed as much at us as individuals. He’s talking about nowadays’ generation, as opposed to when he was a bit younger.

“We’re more focused on tomorrow, when we saw that, training is much more important, we train hard for the team. We’re just looking to put things right tomorrow.”