“For me, the next big game is against Feyenoord and the next game he is going to play”, the United boss said.
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The 18-year-old had a goal disallowed in the 70th minute after his shot came off Zlatan Ibrahimovic who was offside, and though his energy and pace could not secure a result for United, his manager praised him as a potential game-changer. Everything around the game – the derby, the big game, Man United-Man City, the focus, the attention – some of the guys felt it.
“I don’t know if he respects me, but I respect him a lot”, said the former Bayern Munich coach.
“We played good. We had the ball and when we lost it, we won it back quickly”.
“We have played, not all of the games, but part of most of the games at a high level, and of course we have to continue”. “The individuals are there, like I am, to serve the team, to give their best to the team”.
The Red Devils then travel to Watford in the Premier League next Sunday as they return to domestic affairs at Vicarage Road.
“I never, when I start the season, say when I win the Premier League or don’t, or win the Champions League or don’t, how I will be judged”.
“It’s definitely our most vocal attempt to try and persuade the fans of the world to try and make Champions League an appointment”, said Trikha, adding that with Mourinho, known for his touchline antics and acerbic barbs, the campaign “will definitely get the most amount of polarization in terms of love and hate”.
“What Claudio did was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen”.
Mourinho said after the defeat against City that he would have picked a different team in hindsight.
Mourinho explained: “You never know the way players are going to react, especially when you don’t know them so well and, after only a couple of months, it is too early to know them really well”.
Several United players have spoken about the need to learn from the 2-1 loss, with Mata underlining the importance of retaining focus after the first of six September matches.
Rather than pandering to egos in his pre-match pep talks, the Manchester United manager at all times delivers a unified message to his group.
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Herrera, who came on as a half-time substitute against City, could also start for the first time since the opening day win over Bournemouth.
