McTominay reflects on tough love and growth at Manchester United

Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay has discussed the demanding nature of his development at Manchester United, citing a key incident with former manager Jose Mourinho as a turning point.

McTominay highlighted his relentless mentality, inspired by basketball legend Michael Jordan, whom he often references for his uncompromising approach. He described Jordan's philosophy that every fan might be watching for the first time, urging full effort at all times.

The 28-year-old's physical transformation was remarkable: he was just 5ft 6in at 16 and played sparingly in his youth career, logging only two hours of competitive action in his first under-18 season and starting just two of 22 under-21 matches. A later growth spurt took him to 6ft 4in.

Recalling a senior-team training session, McTominay said he argued with Michael Carrick and Ashley Young over decisions in a bounce game, leading to a stern dressing-down from Mourinho. "He dressed me down. It was like 'who do you think you are, you've done nothing'," McTominay remembered.

Now a senior figure, McTominay acts as a mentor for younger Scotland squad members such as Tyler Fletcher and Findlay Curtis. He stresses the importance of discipline off the pitch, saying, "The right way to live your life off the pitch is probably more important than what you do on the pitch."

McTominay's comments come as Scotland prepare for their first men's World Cup finals appearance in over two decades, building on the resilience he learned from his early career struggles.