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Brian McClair: Demetri Mitchell will thrive at table-topping Hearts

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As director of Manchester United’s youth academy, Brian McClair oversaw Demetri Mitchell’s football development for years. He believes the young Englishman will learn even more at Hearts after returning to a team scaling the top of Scotland’s Premiership.

McClair recalls Mitchell first becoming involved with United as a local primary school kid with glittering red stars in his eyes. Now…

Jose Mourinho: Manchester United boss should smile more – Brian McClair

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho should show he is “enjoying one of the best jobs in world football” and fans would like to see him smile more, says former striker Brian McClair.

Mourinho has seemed unhappy in pre-season – taking aim at players, the club’s lack of new signings and the poor showing in the loss to Liverpool.

“There has to be a balance,” McClair…

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho should show he is “enjoying one of the best jobs in world football” and fans would like to see him smile more, says former striker Brian McClair.

Mourinho has seemed unhappy in pre-season – taking aim at players, the club’s lack of new signings and the poor showing in the loss to Liverpool.

“There has to be a balance,” McClair told BBC World Service Sport.

“You should, at some point, look as though you are enjoying it.”

Listen to the latest episode of the World Football show

Mourinho left or was sacked from his roles at Real Madrid and twice at Chelsea after the third season and he is entering that period with the Red Devils.

The club won the Europa League and League Cup in his first season, which was followed by a trophyless second, suffering defeat in the FA Cup final against his old club.

During the club’s tour of the US, Mourinho said he was hoping for one signing from the list of five options he gave the club “a few months ago”.

He also said if he was a United fan he would not have paid to watch their friendly matches and the 4-1 International Champions Cup defeat by rivals Liverpool in Ann Arbor “gave me nothing at all”.

The Portuguese boss has a number of World Cup players unavailable, while captain Antonio Valencia’s poor condition was because of “too much holiday” and he “doesn’t not know” when winger Anthony Martial will return after leaving the tour to attend the birth of his second child.

United begin their Premier League campaign at home against Leicester next Friday (kick-off 20:00 BST).

McClair said: “It is fine to be critical, upset and happy – Sir Alex had those moments too, but there were several times where he looked very happy.

“Jose maybe enjoys himself internally but from a football point of view, the Manchester United fans would very much welcome to see him smiling and laughing at appropriate times.

“From an opposite view, your great rivals have been Liverpool and they have a coach (Jurgen Klopp) who does laugh and smile and look pleased to be there. That must grate as well at times if you are a United fan.”

Jaffa cakes the recipe for success?

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Former Scotland international McClair played for the Old Trafford side between 1987 and 1998, scoring 127 goals in 471 appearances.

He won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, the European Cup Winners’ Cup and European Super Cup during his spell.

McClair revealed the snack which helped the team under manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who was in charge for 26 years.

“I would stop at the corner shop to buy the biscuits to go with the tea and coffee,” said McClair. “My choice of biscuits tended to be custard creams, bourbons or chocolate digestives. They got wolfed down every, single day.

“Trevor Lee, who was the dietician, noticed we got quite comfortable eating biscuits on a morning but the sugar levels and dietary contents were not as good as they should be.

“He knew that Jaffa cakes, with the chocolate on the top, jam in the middle and the sponge, would be good for you. We would eat huge quantities of then before and after training and games.

“I have never touched a Jaffa cake since but it saved me a couple of quid every day not having to buy biscuits.”

‘Lingard bought a new car and had a daft paint job’

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After finishing his career at Motherwell, McClair returned to United in 2001 where he became reserve manager before being appointed director of the youth academy, eventually leaving his role in 2015.

Players such as France World Cup winner Paul Pogba and England international Jesse Lingard progressed into the first team under his tutelage.

McClair said: “There are two parts to the journey, the first part is getting through puberty. You fall in love with football and carry that through but when you reach puberty all of a sudden your eyes are going in different directions.

“You spend a lot of time looking in the mirror, whether that be deciding if you are pretty enough, squeezing your spots or hoping that female over there might find you attractive. If you get through that and still love it, you have a chance.

“The next part is the distraction of affluence – being in love with the game or being in love with the image of it. Plenty have been turned by the image and lost concentration and drifted away.

“Jesse Lingard was no different when he could afford to buy a new car then have a daft paint job on it. My job outside the first-team was to reduce the number of distractions as possible.

“I would not let them wear coloured boots because if everyone wore black boots, there would be no distractions. Everyone would come out and do their job and work as hard as you can.”

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BBC Sport – Football

Scott McTominay: Brian McClair backs Manchester United midfielder for Scotland

International friendly Venue: Hampden Park, Glasgow Date: Friday, 23 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio Scotland; text commentary on BBC Sport website. Former Manchester United and Scotland player Brian McClair believes Scott McTominay can establish himself in international football. McTominay, who also qualifies for England, was called up for Scotland’s games against Costa…

International friendly Venue: Hampden Park, Glasgow Date: Friday, 23 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio Scotland; text commentary on BBC Sport website.

Former Manchester United and Scotland player Brian McClair believes Scott McTominay can establish himself in international football.

McTominay, who also qualifies for England, was called up for Scotland’s games against Costa Rica and Hungary.

The 21-year-old has made 18 appearances at United so far this season.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how he deals with the national game and hopefully he’ll play in the two games that are coming up,” said McClair, 54.

‘McLeish good enough for first choice’[1]

Remember these? Scotland strips down the years[2]

“If he continues to do what he’s doing for Manchester United, if he keeps playing well, pleasing the manager that he’s got, his coach or manager at Manchester United, he’ll do well.

“[Scotland head coach] Alex McLeish made a huge effort getting to [Manchester United’s training ground] Carrington to meet up with him, because it was in the middle of the bad weather that we had. He made it, put a case, [England manager] Gareth Southgate sent him a text.

McClair previously worked with McTominay at Manchester United’s academy and recommended the player to Scotland’s youth teams.

“He’s an intelligent boy, he’s mature, he’s determined and we knew he was a good player, so he just needed people to have the faith in him to wait for him to develop into the athlete he is now,” McClair told BBC Scotland.

“As far as I can remember, his gran’s got a farm in Stranraer. When I found out that, I was always pushing him [to play for Scotland].”

‘I don’t think I’ve ever worked, I’ve had enjoyable hobbies’

McClair joined the Scottish FA as performance director in 2015 after leaving United, but held the post for just over a year.

Nevertheless, he described his time back in Scotland as “a worthwhile experience”.

“I’ve had an amazing time in football,” he said. “I love every minute of it. I don’t think I’ve ever worked, I’ve had several enjoyable hobbies.”

With 30 caps, McClair experienced the highs and lows of international football, having been left out of the Scotland squad for the 1990 World Cup in Italy but playing and scoring at Euro 92.

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And with Alex McLeish taking on the Scotland job for a second time – succeeding Gordon Strachan – McClair is optimistic.

“Alex has got all the qualities,” he added. “He’s an experienced manager. He’s got a very good sense of humour, which is important to have in a top job.

“He’s good at dealing with players like Gordon was. What’s been encouraging for me watching Scotland sides is the performances that Gordon has managed to get out of his players, who were comfortable with him and wanted to play for him and wanted to play for Scotland.

“Alex will have exactly the same influence on those players, too. It must be kind of buoying for the coach and the coaching staff and hopefully for the supporters that the likes of McTominay are willing to play for Scotland.”

References

^ ‘McLeish good enough for first choice’ (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Remember these? Scotland strips down the years (www.bbc.co.uk)

BBC Sport – Scottish