Mourinho on brats

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Whatever one thinks of professional football, Sky has an interesting piece on Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and his apparent inability to work his old magic on the team.

Twice in one week the Manchester United supporters have trudged away from Old Trafford wondering what has become of their team. Having been outplayed by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, any hope of a response in the Carabao Cup proved forlorn. They were beaten on penalties by Championship side Derby County.

Leaving aside the money madness, star managers such as Mourinho must have extremely astute insights into the abilities, motives and character of the talented young men they must mould into an internationally formidable team. It must be a rare talent too.

In which case perhaps Mourinho’s views about the way young footballers have changed during his career may be taken seriously.

“I have had to adapt to a new world and what young players are like now,” admitted Mourinho. “I have had to understand the difference between working with a boy like Frank Lampard who, at the age of 23, was already a man – who thought football, work, professionalism – and the new boys today, who at the age of 23 are kids.”

His assessment of the changing nature of dealing with young players feels particularly prophetic in light of the furore over Pogba’s use of social media. “Today I call them boys not men because I think that they are brats and that everything that surrounds them does not help them in their life or in my work,” he added.

It is no secret that football fans tend to have strongly partisan views on managers, especially managers who are not averse to stirring up controversy. It may be that Mourinho is merely trying to deflect criticism which tends to be harsh and relentless but the piece is still worth a read.