Jose Mourinho was pleased with the controlled display that saw off Northampton and secured Manchester United a mouth-watering EFL Cup clash with Manchester City.
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A decision to wait until next summer to add more reinforcements would reflect the way United have dealt in recent years with the January transfer window, which Sir Alex Ferguson always felt provided poor value.
The ignominy of a fourth straight loss was avoided with a timely 3-1 win at League One side Northampton, setting up a re-match with Pep Guardiola’s City in the fourth round.
Back United to win 3-1 and Rashford to score. Normally it’s easier against 10 men and we should have been playing against 10 men early in the second half, but they fought, they played with their strength. “Wayne Rooney is no longer worth a place in the Manchester United team”, veteran United watcher Jim White wrote in the Daily Telegraph. Even at 25m then you have to jump and go press.
The question is whether the Leicester man would be anything more than a bit-part player at United, whether he could provide different skills in midfield or might simply add to the clutter of square pegs in round holes that Mourinho is now working with. We were very disappointed (to lose to City) because it was in front of our fans and now we have another chance to play against them.
Pearce, who has worked with young English players previously, believes such treatment destroys the confidence of the players and says Mourinho should handle such situations in a better way.
Manchester United are not concerned about José Mourinho’s outspoken manner despite reports that Luke Shaw is unhappy at the criticism his manager levelled at him after the defeat at Watford on Sunday. The public remarks aside, the private criticism has also been savage. “I think he was fine. I’m 37 years old and at a moment (in my career) where I don’t have to impress anybody”, said Forlan, scorer of 36 goals in 112 internationals.
There has certainly been surprise in some quarters of the dressing room that Michael Carrick has been overlooked in midfield.
After training with Rovers since his release from the Black Cats, manager Owen Coyle has revealed that there could be some “positive news” concerning the player tomorrow, as he bids to solve his injury crisis.
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Carrick may finally get another run out against Northampton tonight but Mourinho’s failure to settle on a system that maximises Pogba’s abilities has raised eyebrows with the France midfielder’s deployment predominantly in a midfield pairing with Marouane Fellaini yet to convince.
