Mourinho: Shaw played 'with his body and my brain' vs. Everton
Jose Mourinho's scathing criticism of embattled Manchester United full-back Luke Shaw only grew sharper on Tuesday, with the Portuguese gaffer claiming he had to do all the on-field thinking for his player during a 1-1 draw against Everton.
The 21-year-old made just his second Premier League appearance of 2017 at Old Trafford, two days after Mourinho questioned Shaw's overall ambition and commitment.
Limited to 25 minutes of second-half football, the former Southampton defender gave a decent account of himself. He earned a crucial penalty for United in stoppage time after his low drive made contact with Ashley Williams' outstretched arm.
While Mourinho offered some praise, it came with an asterisk.
"I tell you because I told him already. Luke Shaw had a good performance but it was his body with my brain," Mourinho said, according to the BBC. "He was in front of me and I was making every decision for him. The communication was possible because we were very close. I was thinking for him - when to close, when to go inside.
"He cannot play with my understanding of the game, he must think and he must accelerate the process - 21 years old is old enough to have a better understanding of the game but his contribution was good."
Several managers before Mourinho also criticised Shaw's fitness, but Tuesday's assessment implied that the player doesn't have the capabilities to play at United's level.
"He has lots of potential, but the football brain and the professional brain has to be with the talent," Mourinho added. "He has to change his football brain. He was doing things in the second half when he was reacting to my voice. If he was on the other side, for sure he would not do it."
Currently Daley Blind, Ashley Young, and Matteo Darmian stant ahead of Shaw as left-back options. The England international has a contract with the Red Devils until the end of the next, although it remains to be seen if United will ship out the defender in the upcoming summer transfer window.
"I think he has a future here, but Manchester United cannot wait," Mourinho said. "We need the kids to grow up."