Mourinho: Lack of preparation could cost us in new season
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes his side will be at a disdvantage when they kick off their Premier League campaign next month as their initial opponents have had more rest then them.
Mourinho said at a news conference ahead of last night’s friendly with AC Milan in Los Angeles that “the situation is not amazing” for United with regard to their first two league games of 2018/19, Leicester City at home on August 10 and Brighton and Hove Albion away nine days later.
“When I look to Leicester, if I am not wrong, only [Harry] Maguire and [Jamie] Vardy were in the World Cup, the final phase, because [Kasper] Schmiechel was, but back sooner,” he said.
“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 that is clear, a much better situation for them.
“When I look to Brighton, 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 all together.
“So, of course, against Leicester and Brighton, the situation is not amazing for us.
United have a number of players on post-World Cup breaks including Paul Pogba, David de Gea, Ashley Young, Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford.
It was put to Mourinho at the news conference that some of United’s rivals had a similar situation to deal with.
And he replied: “If you look to the players Chelsea and Liverpool have in pre-season, especially these two teams, also Arsenal, I think if you compare you see the difference of the situation.
“Man City and Tottenham are in the similar situation as we are.”
He added: “I am happy with the evolution of the matches [on the tour], but I don’t have the players to work.
“I don’t have the majority of the players that are going to be in the squad on August 9 when the market closes and we can make it official for the season. So of course I’m not happy, to have just a few players.”