Day makes big difference to maddened Mourinho
SOUTHAMPTON, England — Jose Mourinho’s said the Premier League’s supposed unwillingness to help Manchester United in its preparations for the Europa League final will force him to pick youth players against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
United finishes its league campaign against Palace at Old Trafford before going for European glory against Ajax in Stockholm next Wednesday, a game it must win to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
With nothing riding on Sunday’s game for either United or Palace, which is safe from relegation, Mourinho believes it should have been moved forward a day.
“In any country in the world, the match would be Saturday because Sunday, we are sixth, doesn’t matter what, and Crystal Palace is safe,” the United manager said after Wednesday’s 0-0 draw at Southampton.
“So I think after the moment Crystal Palace beat Hull City and Hull City is relegated, and Swansea is safe, I think in that moment, the match has to be Saturday.
“In any country in the world, it would be Saturday. It’s going to be Sunday. It’s frustrating for me. And I hope youdon’tkillmewhenyousee my team.”
Asked if he had submitted a request for the match to be moved, Mourinho replied: “I don’t lose time. When I know that the battle is lost, I don’t fight the battle.
“You (journalists) are English, you are here since you were born. I’m here seven years. I never saw any detail of trying to care about the English teams involved in European competitions.
“I never saw that with Chelsea, I never saw that with Manchester United, with Manchester City (for its Champions League semifinal) last year. I never saw.
“So I think it’s just a lost battle. We have to accept the way it is.”
The Portuguese confirmed Sergio Romero will start the Europa League final.
The Argentina goalkeeper shone at Saints, plunging to his right to save a sixth-minute Manolo Gabbiadini penalty.
Rather than restore his usual No 1, David de Gea, to the starting XI against Palace, Mourinhosaidhewouldhand a league debut to 20-year-old third-string stopper Joel Pereira, of Portugal.
Mourinho said Axel Tuanzebe, who has started United’s past three league games, would be involved, along with his fellow academy graduates Demetri Mitchell, Scott McTominay, Matty Willock, Josh Harrop and Zachary Dearnley.
“I hope the fans at Old Trafford support the team, they forgive some naivety, they forgive some lack of confidence,” Mourinho said.
“And I hope that Big Sam (Allardyce, the Palace boss) shows he is a good friend and he goes slow. He tells (winger Wilfried) Zaha to go slow, he leaves (striker Christian) Benteke at home. I hope he goes soft on us.”
Mourinho also said centerback Eric Bailly, who is suspended for the final, would feature, as well as Paul Pogba, who has been granted compassionate leave following the death of his father last Friday.
Marouane Fellaini came off rubbing the back of his right thigh at Southampton, but Mourinho said the Belgian midfielder was confident he had not torn his hamstring.
The result at St Mary’s was United’s 15th draw of a frustrating league season and means it will register its lowest number of wins since the 1990-91 campaign.
But United was already guaranteed to finish sixth, while Southampton, which has not scored in four successivetop-flight home games for the first time, remains eighth.
Saints manager Claude Puel refused to discuss speculation that he will leave the club in the offseason.
“I try to stay focused about our last game now,” said the Frenchman, whose side finishes its campaign at home to Stoke City on Sunday.