UNITED Defender believes United’s power play can land title
JOSE Mourinho has made it a mission to construct a squad capable of over-powering their Premier League rivals this season.
While Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino and Arsene Wenger have adopted a more Barcelona-style approach of quick passing, possession football, the United manager believes he will be able to bully his way to the title.
That has been typified by the £75m signing of Romelu Lukaku – the latest physically imposing player to be recruited by Mourinho over the past 12 months. In Paul Pogba, Eric Bailly, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Victor Lindelof, he has significantly raised the average height of his squad.
Nemanja Matic and Ivan Perisic – two more targets this summer – would further add to the physicality of a United team that those within the club believe has the best chance of winning the title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.
“We’re definitely a lot stronger this year,” said Jones. “That’s what the manager thought we needed.
“There is strength in depth and that’s what we need. We’ve recruited well – big Rom up front is a threat, a handful. You can see he’s a strong player. He’s difficult for defenders to play against.
“You have to be cute against him, but he’s going to be a handful for a lot of players this season.
“We are lucky to have him. Hopefully he can score a lot of goals for us.”
It’s not only power Mourinho has brought to United, but a winning mentally Jones admits was lost following Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.
United have won three major trophies in the past two seasons – including the FA Cup under Louis van Gaal, and Jones claims Mourinho’s arrival has seen United rekindle the belief the club was famed for under Ferguson. “I think slowly but surely we’re getting that back,” he said.
“It’s taken time, but I think we are getting there now. Hopefully this season every time another team steps out at Old Trafford they’ll know they are in for a tough time.
“I think we saw that last season. Albeit we drew too many at home, but we will put that right this season.” Jones says United are now positioned to mount their first genuine title challenge since last winning the Premier League four years ago.
“That’s what we need to do this season,” he said. “Last season was disappointing in the league, but we won the Europa League so that wasn’t bad.
“This year we definitely have to start challenging for the title.”