With a few weeks left to the start of a new Premier League season, Jose Mourinho has dropped a bombshell on Manchester United fans.
Speaking in the United States to press on Wednesday, Mourinho confessed he was not sure whether the club would make more signings, saying he has ‘no idea’ and describing the team’s pre-season as ‘very bad’.
“The pre-season is very bad. The positive thing is only for the young boys that have a fantastic opportunity to train with us," lamented Mourinho.
Mourinho also complained about the shortage of first-team players at his disposal, singling out players who had long World Cups as examples. Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini, Romelu Lukaku, Victor Lindelof, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford, Marcos Rojo, David De Gea, Ashley Young, Nemanja Matic, Phil Jones and Fred all had ‘long’ World Cups and may miss the club’s complete US tour.
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However, Mourinho confirmed Matic, Fred and goalkeeper De Gea are expected to join the rest of the squad next week before they play AC Milan in Los Angeles.
"Next week will come De Gea, Matic and Fred which is good, especially for Fred,” said Mourinho.
Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez also failed to make the trip after a visa issue, leaving Mourinho worried about starting the league with fewer senior players.
“I’m worried because I’m not training and then I go to the Premier League without lots of players. But it is what it is and we have to try and make the best out of it with the players we have here,” Mourinho added.
Diogo Dalot, the 19-year-old fullback acquired from FC Porto didn’t make the cut due to a minor injury Mourinho insisted the club doctors were working on.
“Dalot is injured, a small injury, a small surgery, we didn't want to lose him because of that and he's recovering really well and we think he can start training back in England,” he answered when questioned about Dalot.
Mourinho’s comments have left fans worried about the new season, with Chelsea and Liverpool already making huge statements in the transfer market.
So many players have been linked with the Red Devils, specifically those who play in Mourinho’s target areas. Ivan Perisic, Willian and Gareth Bale are reportedly the boss’ priorities.
Fans worldwide took to Twitter to react to Mourinho's press conference, most not pleased by the manager's message ahead of the new season:
Make this claim now:
Jose Mourinho will NOT be at Manchester United by the end of the coming season.
He is done.#MUFC— showmethemoney (@smtm_LFC) July 19, 2018
That month of not hearing anything from Jose Mourinho was pretty great.— Seb Stafford-Bloor (@SebSB) July 19, 2018
Has to be weird for José Mourinho to see his team's main rival and see them to exactly what he used to do in the transfer window:
1. Get the players needed in positions that needed strengthning
2. Get deals done (relatively) early
3. Pay the price necessary to get good players— Jonas Giæver (@CheGiaevara) July 19, 2018
Mourinho’s first press conference ahead of the new season was everything Zidane’s wouldn’t have been.— M•A•J¹³ (@Ultra_Suristic) July 18, 2018
