Andy Walker has claimed Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, is trying to force Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw out of the club.
Mourinho was without the two players in their 3-1 win over Swansea on Sunday.
He told MUTV before the game: “Smalling doesn’t feel that he can play 100 per cent with his pain,” and added: “Luke Shaw told me this morning that he was not in the condition to play so we had to build a defensive line.”
Former Celtic striker, Walker, says Mourinho is used to working with players who can play through pain and was passing a message in his post-match interview.
“Look at the players he’s used to working with. John Terry, [Frank] Lampard, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, you can tell these guys are playing through the pain barriers.
“I think what it does tell you is he cannot trust Luke Shaw, he cannot trust Chris Smalling. When a big game comes along they won’t be considered, because he’s clearly trying to get them out of the club I think.
“Nobody is advocating that you have a hamstring injury and try to play through it. But the mentality to play with a knock or play with something uncomfortable, how many times has John Terry played through that under Mourinho?
“He’s looking for a certain type of player. Remember, it’s early days in Jose’s tenure as manager, he’s just trying to shape the squad, and these transfer windows only come around twice a year, and I don’t think he can trust Smalling or Shaw given his comments.”
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