New boy denies any rifts
FRED has revealed the atmosphere in the United dressing room is ‘excellent’ and has denied there is a rift between the players and Jose Mourinho.
Following the defeat at Brighton last weekend, there were suggestions that Mourinho has lost the backing of some of his players and there were reports he could be on the verge of losing the dressing room.
But new signing Fred has hit back at the reports and insists the reality is the total opposite to what has been reported in the media.
“The media love to talk,” the 25-year-old told ESPN Brazil. “The dressing room has an excellent atmosphere. From what I’ve seen since I arrived, no one has a problem with anybody. It’s the contrary. Everyone wants to help everyone.
“(The criticism) is normal. We lost a match. It is a big team, a European giant. It is normal that people talk, but Mourinho is a great manager. I am really happy to be working with him.” ONE by one they stopped. Brighton players were understandably in the mood to talk as they were surrounded by hungry hacks in the Amex’s mixed zone.
You might say this was a famous win against United, but just threeand-a-half months previously, the Seagulls had pulled off the same feat to ensure survival. They now have a 100 per cent record against United in the league. What is there to fear?
New signing Leon Balogun said as much after making his debut as a 20th-minute substitute. In days gone by, coming on to face United was daunting but he was already briefed on what to expect. And it certainly did not fill him with fear.
“I had expected the Premier League to be quicker, but [the lads] told me this is always the kind of game you play against United,” he told reporters.
“They like to slow it down a little bit sometimes. Liverpool is going to be completely different. I know how [Jürgen] Klopp likes to play. It’s going to be a lot quicker and a lot more intense.”
If ever United needed a reminder of how far they have fallen, if ever they needed motivation to raise their game. Mourinho’s side are no longer feared and, if anything, that dynamic has flipped now.
Memories of shock defeats to Huddersfield, Newcastle and Brighton are still raw for these United players and they were unable to shake off that hangover from last season in their first away game of the season.
But even in such testing circumstances, and an eight-day wait, there is always a chance to make amends.
And, in some ways, Mourinho will be glad Spurs are the visitors tonight. United had a much-improved record against the top sides last season – claiming 19 points from a possible 30.
Which makes Paul Pogba’s admission that the team’s attitude was not right against Brighton all the more frustrating. If only they could do both like the great sides do.
They also delivered against Spurs on the big stage – at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final in April.
After a shaky opening United looked a Mourinho team then – playing with heart, passion and resilience – but they never built on that display, losing the final to an average Chelsea.
Since that final, it has somehow been hard to be overly positive about a side who finished second in the league. How often is that the case?
Mourinho has battened down the hatches – uttering just 310 words in response to 13 questions in his prematch press conference – but the players will not need any public message to know they have to deliver tonight.
And you would not bet against them rising to the occasion under the lights at Old Trafford – which would make that Brighton defeat all the more infuriating.