Jose ready to risk row by fielding Pereira in finale against Palace
JOSE MOURINHO could throw rookie goalkeeper Joel Pereira into Manchester United’s final league game of the season against Crystal Palace next weekend even if the result has a £100 million bearing on the Premier League’s relegation battle.
With David de Gea on his way to Real Madrid this summer, defeat at Tottenham today could mark the Spaniard’s last appearance in a Manchester United shirt with United’s topfour hopes effectively over.
Mourinho is keen to blood 20year-old Pereira as quickly as possible while Sergio Romero is held back until the Europa League final against Ajax on May 24.
However, Palace’s rivals Hull City and Swansea City will be fuming if Mourinho puts out a team of kids against Sam Allardyce’s side with the relegation issue still mathematically unresolved.
Swansea’s win at Sunderland yesterday means Palace will only be guaranteed safety if they draw or beat Hull City today at Selhurst Park but defeat would mean nothing is certain until the final round of matches.
Ordinarily, United at home to Palace would be regarded as a banker but Mourinho says he has little choice but to select a weakened side with a European final to play three days later.
‘I really hope that everything is decided so we are not part of that because if we are, I am so sorry. But if we are, I am (still) going to rest players,’ said an unrepentant Mourinho.
‘Joel Pereira is fantastic and I am going to give him a chance to play in the Premier League this season. In one of our three remaining matches I am going to play him.
‘We have two good experienced goalkeepers and this young boy who for me is going to be the Portuguese number one. He was made in this club.’
Pereira has made only one appearance for United as a late substitute against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup but asked whether he would take possible Premier League sanctions into account should he field a weakened team against Palace, Mourinho gave a one-word answer: ‘No.’
Mourinho’s other option is to give Pereira his Premier League debut at Southampton in midweek and let de Gea have an Old Trafford send-off against Palace, though a positive result at Spurs today would give United an incentive to pick up three points at St Mary’s with a top-four finish still possible.
De Gea looks certain to have a free run at moving to Real Madrid with rival Thibaut Courtois now more inclined to stay at Chelsea following their Premier League title triumph. This summer, Mourinho will look for another senior keeper with Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak and England No 1 Joe Hart on his shortlist.
Romero has expressed his delight at Mourinho’s decision to let him face Ajax, where victory would see them qualify for the Champions League.
The goalkeeper said: ‘I am happy with this. I’ve played in a lot of finals including the World Cup Final for Argentina. I came to United to be No 1 but I know what the reality has been. When I can play, I’ve demonstrated how capable I am and that I can do this job.’