JOSE: WORLD CUP FATIGUE IS ALL IN THE HEAD
Form of Pogba and Lukaku proves it says United boss
JOSE MOURINHO has told Manchester United’s rivals that World Cup fatigue is all in the mind.
England skipper Harry Kane’s sluggish start to the new season has been put down to the hangover from his exertions in Russia.
But United’s record £89million signing Paul Pogba, who went the distance at the World Cup in winning it with France, has hit the ground running this season and already scored four goals in six games.
Team-mate Romelu Lukaku, who also went all the way in Russia as Belgium beat England to secure third spot, has got the same number of goals.
And since Tottenham beat United 3-0 at Old Trafford, they have lost their last three games, while Mourinho’s team have won theirs.
Against that backdrop, Mourinho was asked if he felt World Cup fatigue was a mental, rather than physical, issue and he said: “I think it is.
“Good results, good performances, they make miracles and bad results and bad performances, they make you look more tired, more upset, more ugly, more everything. “Football is a bit like this. A team that yesterday looked very bad, today looks very good and one that yesterday looked very good, today looks very bad.
“Paul came from the World Cup, he was the last one to come back because he played the final, I think the happiness, the confidence, the self-esteem pushed him to play the first match against Leicester, almost without training, and he played very good.
“It’s more about the moment and the momentum, like you like to call it, is very important in the positive and negative way.” United face Wolves at Old Trafford today, after a hat-trick of wins on the road. Despite their shaky start, Mourinho is convinced United will do better than last season. “I am optimistic, but a difficult season, yes,” he added.