Sunday 20 May 2018 22:52, UK
Jose Mourinho should be more like Pep Guardiola in his man-management style, says Sunday Supplement guest Henry Winter.
Manchester United finished a fractious campaign on a low note as Eden Hazard's first-half penalty at Wembley saw Chelsea win 1-0 in the FA Cup final, leaving Mourinho with no major honours to cling to this season.
It has been another turbulent period at United under Mourinho's watch with the style of his football being widely criticised and young players like Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial struggling to find their best form.
Winter thinks Mourinho needs to rethink his "tough love" man-management strategy and follow a more "father-son" approach as shown by Guardiola at Manchester City and Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham.
"It's all about responsibility - Mourinho has a responsibility to his players to improve his man-management," he said.
"Why is Eric Bailly on the bench when he's a better centre-back than Phil Jones and Chris Smalling? Why is Luke Shaw not getting an arm around him? He's a type of individual that needs support and responds to a Pep Guardiola or Sir Alex Ferguson - a more intelligent way of man-management. With Jose Mourinho it's tough love - a cold climate.
"One of Maurico Pochettino's greatest strengths is man-management; it's the same with Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp. You saw Mourinho in the cup final when Marcus Rashford did a grubber-kick across the pitch after 10 minutes - he went absolutely spare.
"You have to treat young players like a father to a son - sometimes you need to criticise and educate. But ultimately you need to give them love - and Rashford needs love."
Rashford started the FA Cup final due to an injury to Romelu Lukaku but had little impact and was substituted with 20 minutes remaining.
Mourinho has openly admitted to his preference to playing Lukaku when he is available over Rashford, who has been reportedly linked with a move away from Old Trafford.
Oliver Holt, of the Daily Mirror, is bemused by Mourinho's treatment of the England striker.
"Mourinho's handling of Rashford has been utterly strange," Holt said.
"Barney Ronay from The Guardian posted a tweet saying he felt Rashford had been vandalised by Mourinho and that struck a chord with me. In the final Rashford was a shadow of the player when Mourinho arrived - I find that sad."
