Mourinho names ONE Man United player that emerged from Brighton clash with credit but backs McTominay to improve

Nemanja Matic (C) playing against Brighton in FA Cup win. [Photo; Courtesy]

Nemanja Matic was the only Manchester United player to be praised by Jose Mourinho after the FA Cup win over Brighton.

United progressed to the semi-finals of the competition with a 2-0 victory at Old Trafford.

But it was another below-par display from the hosts, just days after their surprise Champions League exit to Sevilla.

After the clash, Mourinho let rip at his players but reserves some praise for midfielder Matic.

"I prefer to name the good ones. Matic was an island of personality and quality," he said.

"A few guys were scared to play. I think it is a relation with personality, trust and class.

"When the sun is shining and you win matches, every player is a good player and is confident to play.

"When it is dark and cold and you have a period of bad results, not everybody has confidence and personality to play."

Scott McTominay. [Photo: Courtesy]

Meanwhile, Mourinho went on to criticise youngster Scott McTominay and Luke Shaw, who was dragged off at the break.

He added: "Scott played the worst match since he played in the first team. But he is a Manchester United player for sure, because he is a player that made mistakes and missed so many passes but has big personality.

"Instead of criticising, I was positive with him. You played very bad but you did the basic things and kept emotional balance. He was not afraid to play."

Jose Mourinho suggested Scott McTominay played his "worst match" for Manchester United in the win over Brighton.

The young midfielder was criticised by the United boss despite the 2-0 FA Cup win over Brighton.

McTominay has progressed through the United ranks this season and become a regular in recent weeks, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Despite questioning McTominay's performance, Mourinho decided to praise the midfielder upon his arrival in the dressing room after the final whistle.

"My calculation is without pressure they don't perform well," Mourinho said. "What can I lose? And the ones always that are always there will always be there.

"And there's an example of personality, you have the kid that didn't play well at all and I told him already, was the one I first spoke individually with in the dressing room, and instead of being critical with him I was positive with him. Because you play very bad but did the basic things that a player has to do and one of the basic things is to keep emotional balance.

"To play with that red shirt - which is a heavy one, is a heavy shirt to wear - and the kid in his worst performance by far, he was there. He was not afraid to play, he played bad and every player can play bad.

"Scott played on his [Matic's] side, Scott played the worst match since he played with me in the first-team, but he is a Manchester United player for sure, because he's the player that made mistakes, passed the ball so bad tonight, lost so many passes.

"But big personality to cope with a mistake, big personality to say and to think I am not playing well but at least I will do the basic things of the game, which is to keep position, give balance to the team, recover balls, don't make defensive mis

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