JOSE STILL LOVES ME
SALE LOOKING FOR FIRST WIN OF SEASON /P56
ANDREAS Pereira insists Jose Mourinho’s recent criticism ‘did not hurt’ and the Brazilian wants to remain at Valencia for the rest of the season.
The 21-year-old United midfielder seemed set to stay after the English transfer window closed, but the Spanish window was open for 24 hours longer and Pereira was eventually allowed to join Valencia the following day.
Mourinho criticised Pereira’s decision to return to La Liga, having spent last season on loan at relegated Granada, and said it proved the midfielder was not ready to fight for a place in the United first-team.
Pereira made his Valencia debut in the KEVIN de Bruyne has revealed the REAL reason Pep Guardiola keeps putting him on the same pedestal as the world football greats.
The Belgian midfielder was again in brilliant form as City hammered Feyenoord 4-0 to get their Champions League campaign off to a flying start.
And afterwards Guardiola picked out De Bruyne – who set up John Stones’s second goal with a pinpoint cross – as one of goalless draw with Atletico Madrid at the weekend and is not concerned by Mourinho’s comments.
“It did not hurt,” Pereira told Marca. “I talked to him before coming here. On the one hand I’m happy because he loves me and if he didn’t think I was a good player he would not have wanted me to stay. So I think on the bright side.
“If I thought negative it might hurt, but for me it’s a good thing. I talked to him before coming here and I want to work hard and stay all year. I’m focused here.”
Pereira added he is not aware of United’s option to recall him from his loan in January.
“I do not know,” he said. “That is something between clubs. I was told I was going to play the best players on the planet. De Bruyne is canny enough to know that the manager is boosting his confidence, but also has another motive in talking up his ability.
“It makes me happy, but the other way it is also a way of putting pressure on me to do well,” said De Bruyne.
“I have tried to be more consistent since I came here and have had ups and downs but last year and the start this year has been constantly very good for me.”
The Blues were in great attacking form in Rotterdam, but De Bruyne said his own good form was simply reflective of the way the team is playing after three successive wins.
“I’m going with the flow of the team,” he said. “I feel really good after good preparation – physically and mentally I’m ready to play and get a lot of confidence from the manager and the team-mates around me.
“I’ve been here more than two years so I feel at home with this team – it’s a good period for me.”
City special: Pages 58-60 here for a year and I want to be here for a year. I do not know about that clause.”
Mourinho used Pereira in central midfield during pre-season but the arrival of £35m signing Nemanja Matic prevented him from making any of the four matchday squads last month.
Last week, Mourinho said: “Andreas Pereira was a personal decision that I don’t agree with.
“A decision I don’t think honestly I don’t think is the best decision for him, a decision that disappoints me a little bit, because I think he has the potential to be here fighting for a position, for opportunities, and fighting to be a Manchester United player.”
United special: Pages 61-63