Jose Mourinho has warned his Manchester United squad to “stay at home” if they are unable to handle the pressure of playing in front of the Old Trafford crowd.
United are at risk of going winless in four straight European matches at home for the first time in their history when they host Young Boys in the Champions League on Tuesday, but the Red Devils boss denied his players would rather play away from their own ground.
“I think it would be a lack of respect to the stadium and the fans to say we prefer playing away,” Mourinho said.
“If you ask me if I prefer to play at home against Young Boys or to go away to Bern, I prefer always to play at home.
Mourinho’s men are two points off Group H leaders Juventus and two ahead of third-placed Valencia following the 2-1 come-from-behind win in Turin earlier this month.
Subsequent Premier League results have been less impressive – a 3-1 defeat in the Manchester derby followed after the international break by Saturday’s uninspiring 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace.
And, given their up-and-down run of form, the Portuguese challenged his players to treat the European clash with Young Boys as a knockout match, despite acknowledging victory is not essential.
“It’s not a crucial match because if we don’t win tomorrow we still don’t depend on other results,” he said. “We will still just depend on ourselves.
“But I want to play from the first minute like it’s the last chance we have to qualify. I want to play this game like a knockout game, like we have to win.
“The team I’m going to play, I [want to see] happiness to cope with the little pressure I’m going to try to add to the players.
United remain well-placed to advance in Europe but Mourinho, who admitted his midfield lacks “aggression”, wants his side to shed their lethargy.
“I don’t want the team to be waiting, not to be reactive but proactive. You or the fans probably think Jose told [the players] to start slow and nice and easy, or to wait to react.
“It’s the exact opposite. It’s frustrating,” he concluded.