Mourinho: Sanchez will shine next season
Jose Mourinho believes it may be next season before Manchester United maximise Alexis Sanchez’s talents.
The Chilean has scored just once in eight games since joining from Arsenal, but Mourinho suggested it was never going to be easy for him to settle in immediately.
Asked if he was getting the best out of Sanchez ahead of United’s game against Liverpool at Old Trafford today, Mourinho said: “No. What is wrong is that he came at the worst moment of the season, in the winter market.
“I think this was a chance we didn’t want to lose and we took it. Next season will be better for him. But of course he is learning how to play with us and we are learning how to get the best out of him.”
Sanchez has been criticised for dropping too deep in games and losing possession too often – he turned the ball over 34 times in Monday’s 3-2 win away at Crystal Palace – but Mourinho said he only saw a player determined to involve himself.
“That’s great – not afraid to take responsibilities, not afraid to try things,” Mourinho said. “When he feels that he’s not as dangerous as he likes to be, he drops back, he tries things. When he makes mistakes, he tries to compensate with fantastic spirit. He’s a guy with great maturity and attitude and we couldn’t be happier.”
Paul Pogba is due to undergo a fitness test this morning after pulling up in training at United’s Carrington training ground yesterday. But centre-half Eric Bailly is pushing for a starting place. Pogba has faced criticism from Sky Sports pundits Graeme Souness and Gary Neville, angering Mourinho. After United’a 3-2 win over Palace on Monday, Neville said: “His great weakness is that he plays like he’s playing in the park with his mates. It’s like everything he does is like a Youtube or Instagram video. It’s like it’s not serious, it’s like a joke to him in terms of the way he goes about things. It’s no wonder Mourinho has left him out for the past few weeks a number of times.”
Jurgen Klopp said he would have no hesitation going head to head with United and Manchester City by spending big again after reaping instant reward from the £75million signing of Virgil van Dijk.
“When the player is the right player, it is not important how expensive he was,” said Klopp. “This club will do what we have to do.”