Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WORRIERS TO WARRIORS
Mourinho says he has turned United’s ‘nice boys’ into trophy-hungry terriers
JOSE MOURINHO says he has turned his players into warriors capable of challenging for the Premier League title next season. Manchester United stretched their unbeaten league run to 24 games – equalling their club record from 2010-11 – with a 0-0 draw at Manchester City on Thursday. Mourinho claimed he inherited from Louis van Gaal a squad low on happiness, belief and trust, but has restored those qualities and has a squad capable of “big things” next term. “The group was a nice group,” said Mourinho. “Good people, good boys, committed people, so I think Mr van Gaal left a good group of boys with very good relations between them. “They missed happiness, trust, belief, they missed the extra bit that brings resilience, brings you fight, and they have it. “So the group, when we meet again on July 9 for next season, is a strong group and the new players, when they will arrive, will find a group more ready to go for big things. The reality is we are fighting to win the Europa League and fighting to try to finish fourth, so let’s go.” Marouane Fellaini’s straight red card for head-butting Sergio Aguero has further restricted Mourinho’s depleted options in terms of available players. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Marcos Rojo, Juan Mata, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Timothy Fosumensah are injured, leaving him with just 14 fit outfield players for tomorrow’s visit of Swansea to Old Trafford. Mourinho admitted Fellaini’s enforced absence for three games could see skipper Wayne Rooney come into central midfield. Pogba will not be available until Thursday’s Europa League semifinal first-leg tie at Celta Vigo, meaning Rooney, marginalised for much of what will be his final season at United, could be recalled in midfield. “Yes, he’s an option,” said Mourinho. “We have Herrera, Carrick and nothing else. “Fosu-mensah is another one we will miss, so we’re in trouble, but we’ll fight.” With so few midfield options, Mourinho denied he made a mistake in allowing Morgan Schneiderlin to leave United for Everton in January in a £20million deal, rising to £24m. “It was our decision,” said Mourinho. “We didn’t tell Morgan, ‘We want to sell you’, Morgan asked and said, ‘Please sell me, I want to go and play every game’.”