Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof reacts to Jose Mourinho criticism
Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof is unfazed by the criticism levelled at him by former manager Jose Mourinho, insisting everybody is entitled to an opinion.
The 25-year-old Swedish defender was one of Mourinho’s biggest signings during his two-and-a-half-year stay at Old Trafford and helped the Red Devils finish second in the Premier League during the 2017/18 campaign.
What did Mourinho say about Lindelof? Five things to know…
- The Portuguese boss signed Lindelof from Benfica for £31m while in charge of United.
- Mourinho, who was sacked last December, criticised the defender’s ability in the air and in one-on-ones while appearing on Sky Sports.
- Lindelof has lost the fifth-highest number of aerial duels (12) of any Premier League defender this season.
- He was criticised for related faults in the defeat to Crystal Palace and draw with Southampton.
- But he has completed the fifth-highest number of passes (348) among Premier League defenders.
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Since being sacked as United manager, Mourinho has taken up a role in the Sky Sports studio as a pundit and following their 2-0 defeat at the hands of West Ham last week, was particularly critical of Lindelof.
“As Gary Neville was saying and totally right, Lindelof is very, very good in some aspects of the game,” Mourinho said.
“But he can be bullied in the one-on-one in the box, he’s not especially good in the air and Maguire has that kind of presence and physicality that is very, very important.”
But Lindelof brushed off the words of his former boss, insisting he had previously been unaware of them and that regardless of whether he’s right or wrong, Mourinho is entitled to his opinion.
“For me it has never been a problem, I’m a very easy guy,” he told Sky Sports.
“There is always going to be someone talking or someone else. When you play for this club there is always going to be people criticising you and the way you play.
“For me, it has never been a problem, even when I play good there is someone criticising me for something. It’s part of the job, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
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“I’m just trying to do my thing and I don’t focus on those things. I didn’t even notice, or know about it before you told me. That’s how I live my life and focus on my things.”
Man Utd have made a stuttering start to the new season so far, winning just two of their six Premier League games and only getting past Rochdale on penalties in the League Cup.
The Red Devils host Arsenal on Monday night.
