Friday 23 February 2018 16:16, UK
Jose Mourinho warned his players trust must be earned as he outlined the reasons for Scott McTominay’s ascension to Manchester United’s first team this season.
McTominay impressed in midweek when he was surprisingly chosen to start ahead of record signing Paul Pogba in United's 0-0 draw against Sevilla in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.
It was only McTominay's ninth start for United, and second in the Champions League, since making his debut as a late substitute in a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal last May but the 21-year-old rewarded his manager's faith with a composed display.
Mourinho pinpointed the 6ft 4in midfielder's mentality when explaining why he expects him to develop into a key member of United's squad.
"I don't give trust for free," Mourinho explained. "I think it is the other way around. It is not up to the manager to trust the player. The player has to make the manager trust him. It is as simple as that.
"Sometimes it looks like we have to give everything to the players and they have to give nothing back to us. I don't think that way.
"The confidence and the trust I show towards Scott - he earned it. Since day one, when he came to the first-team training sessions, step by step, but of course with a lot to learn and a long way to go.
"Even now after maybe eight starts or something like that he has a lot to learn but since the first moment he has earned my trust with the way he has performed.
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"And of course, he will make mistakes, he will have bad matches, he will be on the bench and he will not be selected but I know that when I want him to play, I know the kind of mentality [he has].
"I know the kind of player that I am developing. I know the kind of qualities that are really going to make a good player. I know what he is really good at, I know where he is going to improve and I know he is going to be a very good player."
