Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Shape up or it’s the end, Hen
the game. It was almost as simple as, ‘You’re a goalscorer – go out there and score goals.’
“Because I’d done it over the years, there were times when he would give me the freedom to go where I wanted, to express myself and find pockets of space where the chances might come.
“On the training pitch he’s very vocal and hands-on, and training is always very sharp with the accent on quality.
“He needs time
– it’s not easy fighting fires and the last couple of jobs he’s had have been difficult, but with the players he’s got at West Ham, and the quality in that changing room, I think they should be alright.”
Defoe, 35, still believes he can force his way into England’s World Cup squad next summer – but concedes his dream has been hampered by a lack of playing time at Bournemouth this season. After joining the Cherries on a three-year contract worth £130,000 a week last summer, Defoe has scored only once in 10 Premier League appearances – four of them from the bench.
He said: “To play for England next summer, I know I’ve got to be playing football.
“I saw what Eddie Howe said the other day – he believes I can still get on the plane and we’ve spoken about it.
“Eddie knows this is an important year for me. But I know you can’t pick your side based on one player.” disappointing 1-0 Champions League defeat in Switzerland.
Mourinho hopes the stigma of being dropped will jolt the Armenian from his slumber.
Signed from Borussia Dortmund for £27million in July 2016, Mkhitaryan enjoyed an impressive start this season – producing a handful of assists to apparently cement his place as United’s No.10.
But his form dropped off, with Mourinho and his United coaches deciding he no longer warranted his place and agreeing to drop him completely.
Mkhitaryan has been on the receiving end of Mourinho’s ‘tough love’ approach before. He was exiled for nearly two months last season following a calamitous 45 minutes in United’s 2-1 derby defeat by City.
The playmaker returned to become one of United’s most effective players as they won the League Cup and Europa League.
Mourinho has preferred Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in attacking roles recently, while Jesse Lingard is in favour again – and £89m Paul Pogba back in business after injury.