‘I don’t give trust for free’ – Jose Mourinho opens up on why he is picking Scott McTominay over Paul Pogba
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has claimed young midfielder Scott McTominay has earned his trust and that is why he is starting key games ahead of £89m club record signing Paul Pogba.
Mourinho left Pogba out of his side for last Wednesday’s Champions League game against Sevilla in Spain, with the Frenchman then coming off the bench to replace the injured Ander Herrera after just 13 minutes.
Pogba is not assured of a place in the United team for Sunday’s crunch Premier League game against Chelsea at Old Trafford, with Mourinho suggesting McTominay has edged ahead of his celebrity team-mate in the first team pecking order.
“I don’t think I give trust for free,” declared Mourinho. “It is not about the manager trusting the player. I think it is up to the player to make the manager trust him, it is as simple as that.
“Sometimes it looks like we have to give everything to the players and the players give nothing back to us. I don’t think that way.
“I think the confidence, the trust I have shown towards Scott he has earned since he came to the first team.
“Since the first moment, after eight starts he was earning and that is the way to perform. I know when I want him to play I know the mentality and quality.”
Mourinho also offered up words of praise for Pogba, after suggesting he was pleased with his attitude when called upon against Sevilla.
“Sometimes players coming in are not ready. They don’t have their shin pads, they don’t have their strapping, they don’t have their shirt, they don’t have this, they don’t have that,” he added.
“He took ten seconds to be ready, to show the professionalism and show that in spite of being on the bench he was ready to help the team, which he did. He responded in a very professional way like he also did when he was left out against Huddersfield (earlier this month).”