Mourinho: Shaw 'a long way behind' teammates in commitment
Jose Mourinho and Luke Shaw's difficult relationship has plunged to new depths after the abrasive Portuguese gaffer questioned his left-back's attitude.
"I cannot compare the way he trains and commits, the focus, the ambition. He is a long way behind," Mourinho revealed to BBC Sport when comparing Shaw to full-back colleagues Ashley Young, Matteo Darmian, and Daley Blind.
Shaw, 21, joined Manchester United for around £30 million in 2014, but has endured three difficult seasons in the northwest. He made just 20 Premier League starts in the first two terms after leaving Southampton - although the second campaign was cruelly hampered by a double leg fracture - and, following Mourinho's appointment last summer, has failed to hold down a regular place in his boss' plans.
He last appeared for United in early March for his first league start in over four months, but was substituted in a disappointing 1-1 home draw to Bournemouth.
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Shaw's professionalism has previously been called into question. Mourinho's predecessor, Louis van Gaal, slammed the London native for reporting to preseason training out of shape shortly after his arrival from the Saints, and forced him to work away from his new teammates.
"He needs to be fit and is not very fit and fit enough to do what I want. He needs to train individually until he is fit," Van Gaal told the Guardian's Jamie Jackson in July 2014.
Mourinho doesn't believe Shaw is an exceptional case of an England international not taking his profession seriously, or simply not being good enough. He cited Manchester City's former No. 1, who was promptly made third choice when Pep Guardiola officially took the reins at the Etihad Campus in July.
"Joe Hart is an English international and is playing on loan in Italy," said Mourinho of the short-term Torino goalkeeper.
United limped to a league-high eighth home draw of the season with West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, and returns to action - presumably without the supposed roly-poly physique of Shaw in the squad - for Tuesday's visit from Everton.