Manchester United boss José Mourinho has heaped the praise on winger Ashley Young by saying that the player has been setting an example in the dressing room.
Young is certainly not one of the first team regulars at United. He has been shuffled around the pitch a lot in the last two managerial regimes. Even though he is a winger by nature, Young has also played in positions like left back and wingback in order to help the team out. Mourinho also says that Young is a player who is always available irrespective of any injuries that he may be carrying.
The statement by the Portuguese boss comes amidst a fallout with Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw. The manager recently criticised the duo after they failed to make themselves available for the game against Swansea City.
Even though the match finished as a 3-1 victory, Mourinho says that players should be able to play through the pain barrier if they are to help the team’s cause 100%. It was surprising to see the Manchester United boss question his player’s commitment even early into his regime at Old Trafford. At all of his previous clubs, his exit has been forced upon largely because of results suffering immensely as a result of losing the dressing room.
“There is a difference between the brave, who want to be there at any cost, and the ones for whom a little pain can make a difference.Yes, it takes time [to change] but with the help of people like Phil Jones, who was playing without having even trained, Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney, with these people it will not be an impossible mission but a possible mission.Of course, it is not just the players, it is the players and the people that surround the players,” said Mourinho.