Mourinho has no problem with rival Wenger
JOSE MOURINHO insists he has buried the hatchet with old enemy Arsene Wenger, but admits the Arsenal boss will be pleased Manchester United are playing a weakened team at the Emirates tomorrow. The two have a history of bad blood, with Mourinho describing the Frenchman as a ‘specialist in failure’. But the United boss says they shook hands away from the cameras when Arsenal nicked a draw at Old Trafford in November and he considers the matter now closed. ‘He doesn’t need to make peace — as there are no problems,’ said Mourinho. ‘In the last match we shook hands before and after. When there is peace, we don’t have to have a problem. I am a big boy. I know a problem on the pitch, the next day it is not a problem at all.’ Publicly, Mourinho insists United’s top four hopes were ended by last week’s draw with Swansea — even though they trail fourth-placed Manchester City by only a point. He has promised to be ‘human’ towards the players who took part in United’s 58th game of the season against Celta Vigo on Thursday and make changes for Arsenal, who can move within two points of their opponents with a game in hand with victory. Mourinho claims he can’t jeopardise United’s hopes of reaching the Europa League final when they play Celta at Old Trafford four days later, defending a 1-0 lead. ‘He (Wenger) will be pleased I am going to change my team against Arsenal,’ said Mourinho. ‘The last match against Swansea was our last chance for the top four, so I will rest players. I have to be human with them. ‘We are not going to Arsenal to say “beat us 5-0 or 6-0”. We are going to fight. But I can’t play with the same team that played in Spain and then repeat it next Thursday.’ It could be some classic kidology from Mourinho and Jesse Lingard said the club have not abandoned hope in the league. ‘We’re not out of the top four yet,’ said Lingard. ‘We have the belief and the manager believes in us to get there. Every game is big, we’ve got to treat all of them like finals.’ Axel Tuanzebe, Scott McTominay and Matty Willock — who have all made the bench recently for United — could play. Mourinho confirmed David de Gea will return in goal despite an impressive performance by Sergio Romero against Celta. ‘David plays,’ Mourinho added. ‘We have two fantastic goalkeepers.’ Meanwhile, former Manchester United and England striker Andrew Cole, 45 says he is ‘feeling strong’ as he continues his recovery from a kidney transplant.