Mourinho not concerned by United’s slow pre-season

MANCHESTER UNITED have not hit top gear on their pre-season tour of the United States, but manager Jose Mourinho has said he is not worried as a majority of his first-team players are yet to rejoin the squad following the World Cup.

United drew 1-1 with Club America before a goalless draw against San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday. Mourinho pointed out that his playing XI in both games did not resemble sides he would pick for Premier League matches.

“One more training session. We’re not a team. We’re a group of players from different teams,” Mourinho told the club’s website after the result at the Levi’s Stadium.

“Some are first team, some Under-23s, some coming from loans and going on loan, some are younger, Under-18s. We don’t have a team to play much better than we did, but it’s one more training session.”

Midfielder Nemanja Matic has arrived in the US to join the squad, while goalkeeper David De Gea and new signing Fred are set to link up with their teammates next week.

Striker Alexis Sanchez, played in the game against San Jose after resolving a visa issue that delayed his trip. The Chile international is eager to hit the ground running after struggling to make an impact since his transfer from Arsenal in January.

“Good for Alexis,” Mourinho added. “The first time he plays after some individual sessions.

“He needed this and he made a good effort, a good physical effort, which is important for him in this moment.”

United play AC Milan, Liverpool and Real Madrid in the US this month before travelling to Germany to take on Bayern Munich in their final pre-season clash on August 5. Mourinho’s side host Leicester City in the opening game of the Premier League season on August 10.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s players must quickly adapt to new manager Maurizio Sarri’s demands as the Italian looks to reshape the team for the new league season, midfielder Cesc Fabregas said.

The 59-year-old Sarri replaced sacked compatriot Antonio Conte at the helm this month and is known to favour an attacking approach as seen at his former club Napoli.

“He is bringing a different style, a different formation and we just need to grow into it,” Fabregas told the club’s website.

One of Sarri’s first changes has been to ditch Conte’s preferred system of three central defenders to deploy four at the back and Fabregas said the team, currently on a pre-season tour of Australia, were adjusting.

“We need time to re-adapt to a back four and to what the boss wants but I believe we’re intelligent players and players at the top level who will try to adapt as soon as possible,” Fabregas said. – Reuters