Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho says they must prove themselves at Watford on Sunday.
Advertisement
However, a loss to bitter rival Manchester City in the league last weekend, followed by a 1-0 defeat to Feyenoord in the Europa League on Thursday, is a reminder of the task facing Mourinho in restoring United’s fortunes after the gloom of the David Moyes and Louis van Gaal eras.
After impressing on his debut against Southampton last month, the France worldwide came under fire for disappointing displays in defeats to rivals Manchester City and Feyenoord. “Some of the players were playing their first minutes of the season, not many minutes for them”. At the end of the day, you are Manchester United and you are coming to Watford.
Mourinho is unsurprised that Pogba has been unable to make a significant impact yet, but backed him, and his team-mates, to come good soon.
“And I think he [Mourinho] needs to go in the transfer market for somebody like that”. Again, I’ve gone with what I want to see and not what will necessarily happen, with a couple of exceptions.
Manchester United and Manchester City landed two of the biggest managers in the game this summer.
“You realise that other clubs paying 20, 30, 40 is a much bigger thing than what Man United did and I just want Paul to forget that and to play his football”.
Midfield: Marouane Fellaini was another player who was rested on Thursday night so the Belgian global could come back in to the side with Paul Pogba dropping back in to the midfielder two after playing in a more advanced role against Feyenoord.
The United manager conceded the mood in the squad was no longer quite so buoyant, but he is confident his players will put their recent struggles behind them this weekend.
“I think in that first half they won pretty much every second ball and they had aggression and determination far better than ours”.
Lastly, I have predicted Rashford to play in the team, as I believe that he still has a lot to offer, especially if he is able to create opportunities for his teammates. I fear it won’t happen, but I think most will agree it should do.
Advertisement
“It was for me a good challenge to play against him and I am lucky to win”. This time last week, they were going into the derby with a clean sweep of four victories – three in the league, one in the Community Shield – behind them.
