JOSE MOURINHO NEEDS time to fine-tune his Manchester United side and expects further bumps in the road over the coming months.
United laboured to a 1-0 win over Zorya in the Europa League on Thursday, failing to turn in a display to match the impressive 4-1 victory over Premier League champions Leicester City last weekend.
That result got Mourinho’s men back on track following back-to-back league losses to Manchester City and Watford.
“I need time, I need the players to play, I need to see them in different circumstances,” he said.
“I need to understand more about them. There is so much to learn about the players that only when you work with them for a long, long time do you know them well.
“There is always a surprise behind the door when you work with a team for three or four or five months. There is always a surprise.”
Mourinho hopes to have Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Luke Shaw back at his disposal to face lowly Stoke on Sunday – the start of a daunting October schedule that features Liverpool, Fenerbahce, Chelsea and Manchester City across the Premier League, Europa League and EFL Cup.
“We need the squad, that’s for sure. The Europa League is the competition that disturbs more the domestic competitions because you play on Thursdays and it is really difficult.
“Every game is massive. Watford was massive, we lost three points against Watford – not different than the three points we lost against Man City.
“Every game for me is important but, you are right, we have some big opponents in October, but that is also a motivation.”
Scousers don’t care about this game. More interested in Utd losing to Spurs.
@Olllie B: No not really you don’t have to be from Liverpool to be scouser. Northern Europe sailors brought a stew recipe to ports in England but mostly Liverpool. The dish was called Lobscouse. Those people in Liverpool who ate it were called Scousers.
Huddersfield fans out in force I see… who knew?
Come on Huddersfield
Well its Huddersfield for me…
If Klopp loses this…he’ll have to walk alone !!
@dannyboy: never!!
@Joe Kennedy: tbf Klopp is a joke at this stage.
But but but No Coutinho??? Ahhhh sure the January transfer window is nearly upon us so his back is probably playing up again
@powerfix: numbskull
If that defence is correct, I give up.
Im not even sure Lovren shagging Klopps missus would put him out of the team, Might be his downfall.
So Lovern’s punishment for being absolutely useless last week and costing his team 2 goals is to be rewarded with another start? The mind boggles
@Brian O’Loughlin: its common knowledge amongst real pool fans that lovern’s Mrs ran off another guy. So idiots here should really give him a break.
$hit happens to everyone from every walk of life. If things happen in your personal life that effect your performance or prevent you from doing your job properly you shouldn’t be there. Would you want a depressed pilot flying your plane? How is putting him in the firing line supposed to help him anyway? If anything it will make him worse
@Mr Nimziki: oh lord. You drop him till his heads right ffs.
@Nial D: so kick a man when he’s down is the answer
Klopp took off Lovren after 30 mins last week but now he’s starting again wttttfff
Sacked by your best man…,you’re getting sacked by your best man … sacked by your besssst mannnnnnnn ..you’re getting sacked by your besssst mannnnnnnnn….
@powerfix: nitwit
@powerfix: Jeez. My 12yr old has more imagination, and he’s far less childish than that. I’d say your parents are very proud.
If we don’t win kiss top 4 goodbye YNWA
@Ollie Watson: that ship sailed ages ago dude. Ye will be lucky to nick Thursday night ball next season.
Well wagner said he best friends with klippty that goal proved it
Is Coutinho dropped?
@Nollaig Elliot: “injured”
Time to get a run going after some recent blips
Glad for Sturidge to score his first goal in two months great player