Jose Mourinho: Manchester United Boss Sends Stark Warning To Players

Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, Istanbul, November 3. Mourinho has warned his players to toughen up. Chris McGrath/Getty

Jose Mourinho has issued a warning to his Manchester United players to toughen up or face the same treatment as defenders Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw.

Mourinho singled out the English duo on Sunday after Manchester United's 3-1 victory over Swansea City in south Wales, after they dropped out of the squad due to injury.

The Portuguese manager played with a makeshift defense, including Ashley Young and Phil Jones, and afterwards spoke of the "difference between the ones with pain and those for whom pain can make a little difference."

According to the Daily Mail, Mourinho has made clear to his players that he will not tolerate those who cannot play through the pain barrier.

Shaw and Smalling now face an uphill struggle to convince the United manager to return them to his starting lineup.

Their injuries have seen both miss out on international duty with England, which plays against Scotland on Friday and Spain on Tuesday.

Manchester United's next fixture after the international break comes against Arsenal at Old Trafford on November 19.

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