Manchester United’s latest acquisition Lee Grant has defended his under-fire manager Jose Mourinho after several weeks of criticism for his less-than positive demeanour. The Portuguese has spent much of his time during United’s pre-season tour of the United States taking umbrage with the club’s lack of signings whilst also bemoaning the absence of so many of his normal starting XI, with the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba still on holiday after their World Cup exertions.
But Grant, purchased from Stoke City to be United’s third choice goalkeeper behind David de Gea and Sergio Romero this season, is insistent that the manager’s tone in front of the press and public isn’t all it seems.
“From what we’re getting from the inside it [the atmosphere around the camp] has been nothing but positive,” said Grant in an interview with Sky Sports. “He’s come in even after the Liverpool game and spoken very highly of what we’ve have given as a team and as a unit.
“The messages we are getting from the manager are positive ones and that is important for us going forward. His attitude and demeanour around the place is great and that is helpful for us especially when we are under-manned and we are working our hardest. We are well aware at this stage of the season you have got to work hard and get the minutes into the legs and that is what we are doing.”
Given how much has been written about Mourinho’s behaviour and how negative the general tone of much of his comments have been during pre-season, it’s no small comfort to hear Grant suggesting that the situation has been blown out of proportion somewhat. Here’s hoping that another signing might improve the manager’s comments in public ahead of the beginning of the club’s competitive fixtures in August.
