Arsene Wenger says managers must be “careful” when criticising their own players and “control what you say”.
Wenger’s Arsenal side come up against Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United on Sunday, battling to reach the Premier League’s top four places.
Mourinho has questioned the desire of defenders Luke Shaw, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones to return from injury.
“You can do that in extreme situations but it has to be handled carefully,” said French manager Wenger.
Portuguese boss Mourinho questioned full-back Shaw’s commitment and focus to the club last month and then said the player used “his body with my brain” after the 1-1 draw against Everton two days later.
The former Chelsea manager was also unhappy with the “cautious” mentality of centre-backs Smalling and Jones for failing to play through pain during the Manchester derby.
Smalling has been struggling with a leg injury, while Jones suffered a toe problem in a training ground tackle made by his team-mate.
This week, former Blackburn striker Chris Sutton said Mourinho was “humiliating” his players by querying their dedication to the Red Devils.
Wenger added: “Ideally you have to be careful with that because you cannot do that in every single game.
“You can do that in extreme situations but it has to be handled carefully because it just makes that stress level worse for them. Top players have a good and objective assessment. They know well where they stand.
“You cannot always say to the players ‘we are all in the same boat and in this together to achieve something’ and then you jump out of the boat and say, ‘it’s your fault now’, but when it goes well you take the credit.
“You are in a position where you have to be part of it and fight for them when it doesn’t go well, you have to control what you say.”
United go into the game five points ahead of sixth-placed Arsenal, having played a game more, but are four points adrift of rivals Liverpool who are in fourth position.
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