Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has defended his record with youth players.
Mourinho hit back by claiming he has brought through 49 players at his former clubs that have gone on to be first-team regulars.
The Portuguese had a list of all the players and was prepared to read out each name.
He said “I have promoted 49 youth players from Academies. If you want, I can give you that list.
“Two factors that are very important on these records, because sometimes you promote because you don’t have another chance or so many injuries, you have to bring them in.
“The second factor is when you are not playing for big targets then it is easier to bring them up.
“My record of injuries is very, very low. I never promote players because of a need – I do it because of conviction.
“Last year was the only season of my career when I was not fighting for the title winning or finishing second or third once so it was never a situation of stability and no pressure to promote players.
“I did 49. Some of them are big names, they are today Champions League winners, in the Euros, playing for national teams and 49 is a lot.
“So one lie repeated many times sometimes it looks true but it will never be true. 49.”tribalfootball
