MO FALLS BUT STILL STRIKES GOLD IN RIO
JOSE MOURINHO believes he can rescue Memphis Depay’s career and make him worthy of the iconic Manchester United No.7 shirt.
The Dutchman was a £25m Louis van Gaal signing this time last year and was handed the squad number worn by Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson, David Beckham and George Best.
But after netting two in a Champions League qualifier against Club Bruges, he made only 16 Premier League starts and scored just twice as his form nosedived.
With another LVG buy, Bastian Schweinsteiger, already ditched, it was thought that Mourinho might also judge Depay surplus to requirements.
“I want him to be part of my squad,” insisted the Portuguese ahead of today’s campaign opener at Bournemouth.
“Last season was last season, and I don’t want to go into that too much.
“I know the player. I watched him many times at PSV and at the World Cup two years ago.
“Having that player in mind, I want to keep him.
“I believe in him, yes. I see a good kid and a good professional.
“I don’t care what people think. You see him driving a nice car and you think this guy is not thinking about football, but that is not the case.
“The kid thinks about football, and suffers because he’s frustrated with what happened last season when he lost all his confidence. But he will be back.
“I want to try everything and the way he is working is so good that for sure we all believe that is possible.
“Against Leicester in the Community Shield, he was not on the bench.
“ButIhadMarcus Rashford, Juan Mata and Henrikh Mkhitaryan as subs for that position. In September, however, we have the League Cup, Europa League and Premier League.
“That month will be the end of the frustration for the players who are not selected in the first two or three matches.
“It’s when everyone is playing and life changes for them. No player is happy not playing.”
In contrast to Depay’s downward slide, Rashford came from nowhere to score his way into both the United and England teams.
Mourinho has sounded a warning to those expecting him to improve at a similar rate.
“He’s very good and I like him a lot,” said Mourinho. “But he’s a young boy and has a lot to learn. At his age, he can have ups and downs and you have to be ready to support him.
“But he knows how to be a good professional — the way he works, the way he lives.
“Marcus is one of my important players, and he will play a lot for me.”