Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma has opened up about the time Jose Mourinho called him “rubbish” after a poor performance a few years ago at the club.
Mourinho signed a 19-year-old Zouma to Stamford Bridge from Saint-Etienne in 2014 and was no stranger to the former United boss confrontational ways.
Still finding his feet at senior level, the young defender concedes he was shocked when Jose Mourinho took him aside one particular day and didn’t hold back his criticism of the Frenchman.
“I cannot remember which match we were playing, we were losing 3-1, away from home,” Zouma told RMC Sport.
“The following day, he [Mourinho] catches up with me, he takes me to his office, and he asks me if I am ok. I said yes, he asked me if I was sure.
“I said yes again, he replied ‘Because you were rubbish this weekend.’ Like that, direct. It shocked me, but it made me want to immediately respond on the pitch.
“I remember that it hurt me, that it affected me. But I really wanted to show him that I could react.”
Mourinho has been accused on several occasions of not utilising young players, a notion Zouma clearly disagrees with after benefitting from his tough love.
“He is someone who loves victory. He uses all the tools possible to achieve it,” Zouma said.
“I came here at 19 and he played me. I was able to have my chances, I played my matches.
“I don’t know what other people think, we all have different opinions, but from my side, I don’t really agree [with the notion that Mourinho does not give young players a chance].”
