Mourinho tells players: "Stay home" if you can not handle the pressure of Old Trafford

LONDON: Jose Mourinho has told underperforming Manchester United players to "stay home" if they can not handle the pressure of playing Old Trafford while they are looking to get to the Champions League the last 16.

The boys are the visitors on Tuesday (27 November) as the Red Devils attempt to qualify for the round of 16 with a game to spare – a feat they will achieve if they win and Valencia can not overcome the Juventus.

Progress would be a big advantage after Saturday's tense draw against Crystal Palace, which left them 14 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City, with just three wins in nine home games, all competitions. confused.

However, Mourinho rejected suggestions that his players would find it easier to play and scoffed that playing at Old Trafford created additional pressure before facing the Swiss champions.

"If you feel pressure, stay home – and when I say at home, I do not say stadium at home, I say at home and watch on TV," he said.

"If you feel the pressure of playing games at home where people come to support … go ahead, I've never had the pressure to play at home."

Mourinho is expecting an answer from his side during the group H match Tuesday, after questioning the "heart", the desire and the intensity of some players of his team after the draw 0-0 with Palace.

United's manager said he was frustrated by the poor performance of his team before the match against the Swiss Young Boys team, saying he wanted his players "not to be responsive, but proactive.

"I want the team to start strong, I want the team to try immediately and it's a bit frustrating," he said.

Mourinho said defenseman Victor Lindelof would likely be absent for "a good time" with an injury.

"(Lindelof) performs the scan (Tuesday) but, through the experience of the medical department and the player's feelings, he has a muscle problem and a muscle problem takes time," he added.

"I would say if we have it for the Christmas period – where we need, if possible, that every player is available for this difficult period until the Newcastle match on January 2 – if we can have Victor available for this period, it will be fine. "