Manchester United head coach Jose Mourinho slammed Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw after the team's 3-1 win over Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday, causing rumors to emerge that the two players could be sold in January.
The Red Devils romped the Swans during the weekend, zooming to a three-goal lead in the first half. The opening goal came from Paul Pogba in the 15th minutes while Zlatan Ibrahimović snapped a six-game goalless spell with a brace in the 21st and 33rd minutes.
However, Mourinho was clearly disappointed about two of his players, Smalling and Shaw, announcing to reporters before kickoff that both defenders have decided to miss the crucial game because of minor ailments.
Caught Offside indicated that Mourinho has even "accused" both players of "betraying the culture of United" following their refusal to suit up versus the Swans.
Without Smalling and Shaw, the Portuguese mentor was forced to experiment with a new defensive line so close to the contest, evidently angering him.
"Smalling doesn't feel he can play 100 percent with his pain, Luke Shaw told me this morning that he was not in the condition to play so we had to build a defensive line," Mourinho said before the match, via the Daily Express.
He then pointed out in the post-game interview that "we have players with problems but we have players on the pitch who have problems", referring to the absentees. "In every sport, many times you play and you are not 100 percent."
Mourinho then used his "big tennis player friend" as a metaphor to explain his ire about what happened.
"I have a friend that is a big tennis player, he tells me he remembers more the times he played with pain than the times he played without any pain. To compete, you have to go to the limits. It's a cultural thing for some, and that's not my culture," Mourinho said.
"There is a difference between the brave, who want to be there at any cost, and the ones for who a little pain can make a difference. For the team you have to do anything," he added.
Mourinho was asked by United executives to trim his squad in the January transfer window before signing any new players. With what had transpired, it looks like Smalling and Shaw's heads are now on the chopping block at the Old Trafford.