The Serbian midfielder has revealed that the Red Devils boss hates losing, but insists that he is good for the Premier League
Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic is adamant that Jose Mourinho is good for English football, but is wary of his manager’s reaction when his under-performing side fail to win.
The Red Devils are seventh in the Premier League after 11 matches of the 2018-19 campaign, nine points behind local rivals Manchester City.
Mourinho’s men secured back-to-back wins with a 2-1 triumph away to Bournemouth on Saturday, but the result has done little to lift the mood of unease at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese boss has been the subject of intense media scrutiny over the last few months amid the team’s poor performances and reports of dressing room unrest, but Matic has backed his manager ahead of a Champions League showdown against Juventus on Wednesday.
“He’s a great person,” the 30-year-old told Sky Sports. “He’s a different man outside the job and off the pitch.
“He does have a lot of pressure though because everyone expects him only to win. When we don’t win everyone is waiting to see his reaction. He likes to win and when we don’t win we are hiding from him at the training ground.
“He’s happy when he’s winning but when we lose, like every manager, he wants us to do better. He tries to find a way to be winning as soon as possible.
“One thing is for sure that since he’s been in the Premier League he’s changed a lot in the league. The Premier League has become more interesting with him.”
United’s Group H encounter against the Italian champions is a huge game which they can ill afford to lose, with Valencia playing at home against Young Boys on the same night.
Following the game in Turin, Mourinho’s side will turn their attention to a huge domestic clash against Manchester City on Sunday and Matic insists that the team are doing everything they can to negotiate their way through this tricky period and revive their flailing season.
“We are all united,” Matic added. “When we win we are all together and when we lose we are all together.
“It’s not true what the media are writing. We are working hard and we will continue like this.
“The Manchester United name obligates us to be professionals and try to turn the situation as soon as possible and this is exactly what we are doing.”