SPORTS

EPL heating up! Mourinho urges Shaw to develop football brain

April 05, 2017 12:35 IST

‘He (Shaw) had a good performance but it was his body with my brain’

IMAGE: Jose Mourinho, manager of Manchester United reacts during the Premier League match. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said full back Luke Shaw used "his body with my brain" during his side's 1-1 draw with Everton on Tuesday and has urged the England international to develop a better understanding of the game.

Shaw, who was criticised for showing lack of commitment by Mourinho last weekend, was recalled to the squad for the Premier League clash against the Merseyside club at Old Trafford.

The 21-year-old was introduced from the bench in the second half with Manchester United trailing and his stoppage-time shot led to the penalty that Zlatan Ibrahimovic slotted home to earn a share of the points.

"He (Shaw) had a good performance but it was his body with my brain," Mourinho told the British media. "He was in front of me and I was making every decision for him.

"The communication was possible because we were very close. I was thinking for him, when to close inside, when to open, when to press the opponent, I was making every decision for him."

Shaw, a highly rated teenager when he joined United at the start of 2014-15 season, was making just his 16th appearance of the season after dropping down the pecking order under the Portuguese manager.

Mourinho said he wanted Shaw to accelerate his learning process to fulfil his potential at the club.

"At this level we need the fantastic body he has to play football, the very good technical ability he has, but he cannot play with my understanding of the game," the 54-year-old added.

"He must accelerate the process because he is 21 years old and that is old enough to have a better understanding of the game."

Fifth-placed United are on a 20-game unbeaten league run going into their visit to bottom side Sunderland on Sunday.

FA chairman Clarke criticises Moyes over 'slap' comments

IMAGE: David Moyes. Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

English Football Association chairman Greg Clarke has lambasted David Moyes after the Sunderland manager told a female reporter that she "might get a slap even though you're a woman" for questions asked in an interview last month.

Moyes, who is facing a possible FA sanction, has come under fierce criticism after the conversation, filmed on a mobile phone following Sunderland's 0-0 home draw against Burnley on March 18, was published by a tabloid newspaper.

"It was regrettable, it was distasteful, and I think it showed a complete lack of respect. And we in the game stand for respect," Clarke told reporters at the UEFA Congress in Helsinki.

"There's a professional woman trying to do a job -- and not an easy job -- and she's asking appropriate questions in a respectful manner, and I think she deserves respectful responses, not responses like that."

Former Everton and Manchester United manager Moyes, whose side are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, later apologised to the reporter, who did not make a complaint.

"I think it's doubly bad to use such a term to a woman because there is a lot of violence against women in society and terms like that aren't just disrespectful," Clarke added.

"I think they are bad examples... I'm sure that David Moyes regrets that it happened."

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

NEXT ARTICLE

NewsBusinessMoviesSportsCricketGet AheadDiscussionLabsMyPageVideosCompany Email