Sports

Matic just said something about Mourinho, no other Man United player dared

Published

6 years ago

December 24, 2018

Manchester United look to have turned a corner with the arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following their comprehensive 5-1 demolition of Cardiff City but midfielder, Nemanja Matic insists the players must “take responsibility” for Jose Mourinho’s sacking.
Matic revealed he’s spoken to Mourinho since his departure and is regarded as one of the few players who stayed loyal to the Portuguese manager. And while others have made it clear they are relieved to see the back of Mourinho, midfielder Matic believes the players are to blame for his demise.

When quizzed whether the players must take responsibility, Matic replied: “Of course. We have to take responsibility and do our best to play better and win games.

“We know also its not only the manager’s fault when the results are not good. But this is football and we have to carry on, to fight for the club.”
United midfielder Luke Shaw, who had a turbulent time under Mourinho, also insisted the outgoing manager deserved more respect. Shaw added: “It’s not very nice when something as big as that happens at the club but we all need to show respect. People might be quick to forget what Jose did for United, with the three trophies. He did a lot. One of the trophies (Europa League) was one we hadn’t won before.

“So people need to respect him and remember what he did, not only for us as a team to win those trophies but for the fans as well.”

Even so, United’s flying start under interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will only serve to reinforce the opinion of those who believed Mourinho’s time had come. And Aron Gunnarsson insists United are getting a different Solskjaer to the one that flopped at Cardiff.
The Norwegian took over at Old Trafford with some major question marks because of his disastrous short reign at Cardiff when they were relegated from the Premier League in 2014. But Cardiff midfielder Gunnarsson said: “He came in with a positive attitude, looking at the game in a different way. He tried to impact his style of football.

“Unfortunately it didn’t work but he’s got a good squad at Man United and all the very best to him. It’s a different job. The fans know him as a legend. He’s given them good times before and it’s for them to re-live that moment again.

“I talked to him afterwards, I kept in touch with him after he left. He said to me it was a dream job for him to come and manage Man United because he was a player there for years and knows the club inside and out and it’s going to life the fans as well having him on the side-line. All the very best to him.”