Jose laments United’s lack of preparation

LOS ANGELES: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says they will start the Premier League season at a disadvantage as post-World Cup breaks for his players have left him less time to prepare with his full team than some rival clubs.

United will warm-up for the new season by competing in the International Champions Cup just outside Los Angeles, where Mourinho will be without many of his usual first-choice players.

The Portuguese coach said the inability to train with a full squad could prove costly when United host Leicester City on August 10 and visit Brighton & Hove Albion in their first two Premiership games.

“When I look to Leicester, if I’m not wrong, only (Harry) Maguire and (Jamie) Vardy were in the World Cup in the final phase because (goalkeeper Kasper) Schmeichel was back sooner,” Mourinho said at UCLA.

“So I think a team that is working for six weeks minimum with all the players except one central defender and one striker that can join in the last week and probably be available... that is clear it’s a much better situation for them.

“When I look to Brighton on the second game, I don’t think they have any player that is not doing a very good pre-season with lots of matches and training.”

Players who reached the World Cup semi-finals and final are not competing in the Champions Cup because they get a mandatory vacation. France beat Croatia in the final, while Belgium won the thirdplace play-off against England.

That means France midfielder Paul Pogba and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku will be among the 11 senior players who are not with United in Los Angeles.

“So of course against Leicester and Brighton the situation is not amazing for us. I would say third match after the third week and playing against a team (Tottenham Hotspur on August 27) in a similar situation as us, I think then after three weeks it is OK,” said Mourinho.

“But for the first two matches we have to fight for the points.” - Reuters