The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
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JoseMourinho was unconcerned by Manchester United’s defeat against Borussia Dortmund yesterday, pointing to the highprofile absentees and the “crucial” midfielder they have yet to sign.
On a hot and humid night in Shanghai, the recently-appointed United manager’s first real test ended in defeat by Thomas Tuchel’s men.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ousmane Dembele scored in between a Gonzalo Castro brace, with former Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan netting a consolation goal as United’s tour of China started with a 4-1 loss.
An intriguing match with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City now awaits in Beijing on Monday – a match Mourinho approaches relaxed despite the loss at a half-empty Shanghai Stadium.
“I think it is a combination of factors but, tobefair, I don’t think I can analyse them with this difference of power,” the Portuguese said, underlining how much further Dortmund are in their pre-season.
“At this moment the engines are completely different – it is Formula One against Formula Three.
“They are much sharper and I can see that easily, so it is difficult to judge my players. But even in these circumstances the quality is there, the mentality is there, the personality is there to play.
“But after 10 days of work, people are tired for matches against high-quality opposition that, I repeat, are in a more advanced stage of preparation.”