John Terry has questioned whether Manchester United’s players have big enough characters to thrive under Jose Mourinho.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail’s head of sport Lee Clayton, Terry revealed how Mourinho ‘embarrassed’ him during a training session at Chelsea in the summer of 2005 after winning the Premier League – but his response was to fight hard to win his manager’s approval.
Terry said Mourinho did the same to all of Chelsea’s biggest stars of that hugely successful era, including Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, and that his style brought the best out of them all.
Mourinho’s abrasive approach has seen public bust-ups with Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial among others, while United’s poor start to the season has seen them suffer shocking defeats against Brighton and Tottenham.
Terry, however, still thinks United can enjoy success under his mentor – but only if they show him 100 per cent commitment to the cause.
'At every club he has had big characters and I'm not sure he has that at Manchester United at the moment. At Chelsea, he did,’ Terry told Sportsmail.
'He embarrassed me after one pre-season, after we had won a league title. He stopped the training session, came in, threw down his pad. "If you keep giving the ball away, I will go and buy someone for £50million".
'I am thinking, "I played every game for you last season! And now you're trying to humiliate me!" I didn't understand why he was doing that, but my instinct was to run and give everything; flying into tackles, winning the ball.
'We made eye contact and he grinned. He knew exactly what he was doing — to get the best out of all of us. I have seen him do the same to Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack. Big personalities in the dressing room.
'Does he have the same now at United? You have to stand up and turn up at training every day and show him that you want to win at all costs. If you've got that, he's 100 per cent on your side.
'I do think he'll bring success to United, but it needs patience. My top three for this season will be decided between City, Liverpool and Chelsea. That leaves United and Spurs fighting for fourth.'
Leokiss
86
Couldn't agree more. I just can't fathom why people insist on making his comments to be about his relationship with Mou. The man isn't deaf or blind, his reference to "what's going on" is most likely all the drama over it outside of the club.
inaccessible
61
Well everyone just assumed he meant Mou, could have been the media, the refs, the PL, other players, or the owners not bringing in more talent that he would've been unhappy about. Not sure if he would get fined for any statements towards them but it's impossible to say who he was talking about.
Tipacenry
56
The problem of Man United is not Mourino, the problem are the players. They want to play under this coach without giving their best. In the first three game they played, they showed unfitness. They are not strong, they are too weak. They lack focus. Their attitude was so weak. Mind you Mourino cannot go to the pitch and score for them or mark opponent for them. If United is going to succeed, we have to stop criticizing the coach, let’s talk to these so call players to be serious. United is bigger than any player in this universe.
malaysia
46
Unless he was worried he'd be fined for calling the English Press a bunch of cunts, I can't see what he meant at all.
zeoabilmyz
40
Terry is absolutely right, if JM can't fix you into his style of play, then you fit yourself into JM's system being a star you are. The whole team players have to perform beyond their capabilities, to whom much is given, much is also expected , Pogba and Co should rise up to the challenge lift this great club from its current debacles, hopefully there wiil soon be light at the end of the tunnel.
ppstreamg
37
In all seriousness, has anyone considered his comments are directed towards all of this shit the media is constantly spewing at him/our club, and if he legitimately says what he will get fined by the FA ?
Ellenmed
32
This would make Pogba's comments about being fined for saying something even more perplexing. Unless something was lost in translation?
Headmankingjere
30
I think that people shouldn't judge Manchester United right now because football is unpredictable I think that the current international break was needed for the squad and after the break the real season starts and I know that man United can mount a title challenge