JOSE MOURINHO HAS demanded improvement from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and accused the Manchester United playmaker of “disappearing” during games.
Armenia international Mkhitaryan started the season in impressive form, supplying five assists in United’s opening three Premier League matches before scoring in the 4-0 win over Everton in September.
The 28-year-old’s form has since tailed off since and he missed out on United’s last two matchday squads against Newcastle United and Basel.
Mourinho told reporters the former Borussia Dortmund favourite would return to face Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford on Saturday but left him under no illusions that his standards have been noted as dipping sharply.
“I was not happy with his last performances,” Mourinho said. “I’m not speaking about one or two, I’m speaking about three, four or five.
He started the season very well and after that step by step he was disappearing. His performance levels in terms of goal scoring and assists, high pressing, recovering the ball high up the pitch, bringing the team with him as a No 10, were decreasing step by step.
“That was enough (to drop him) because the others worked to have a chance.”
Such criticism of creative attacking players have become a theme of Mourinho’s management over recent years.
Anthony Martial was urged not to “waste” his talent by his boss earlier this year, while Juan Mata – the Spain international who Mourinho sold to United while in charge of Chelsea – has been in and out of the starting line-up this season.
“I think they give what they can,” the Portuguese said. “I cannot complain about the dedication or the motivation.
“They all try to give their best. I think we had an improvement with Martial. He’s scoring more goals than last season.
“The other players are what they are. They have different kinds of qualities. Sometimes they produce a lot, and we have lots of chances and we don’t score enough.
“The reality is that in the Premier League by not scoring enough we are still the second team with the (second) most goals scored.”
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It’s not a coincidence that he went off the boil when Pogba got injured. The team just flows when he’s in midfield. He is the link between defence and attack
@Hoof Hearted: I agree. He was probably under more pressure to track back more which isn’t the type of player he is. Hopefully he starts today and has a good game.
An attacking player goes missing when Jose decided to go 6 at the back and shut up shop!!! He probably fell asleep
@Malachy Rivers: hahaha
A lot of that United team are going missing lately
Another player lobbed under the bus by Mourinho. What did he expect. Not world class player never was. He is an exciting attacking midfielder who is being hounded harried and made alter his game by his mad manager trying to accommodate a very average player in pogba. Who he willingly made the club press ahead with a ridiculous purchase of a player who cost in total with wages 140 million, who contributes 6 step overs and 8 different hair cuts and 4 new dances a month. Brillo just Brillo !
@Is mise muc gránna: Come on now fella. Putting your hatred aside, surely you don’t believe Pogba is an average midfielder? I agree with your assessment of Mkhi but Pogba is a quality player.
@Is mise muc gránna: Christ Your some feckin gobsh*te
@Is mise muc gránna: You are a weirdo. I’ve often analysed your comments and it did not take long to figure you’re a very poor Liverpool fan. If a fan at all. You slam one team and one manager constantly. In all likely hood your some simple kid from up north in my opinion or one of these hick border people that have a gripe wirh every thing. Wankèr of the highest degree. Lastly please get yourself a girlfriend/boyfriend to keep you company. The mere fact you use an internet thread every day is really sad and pathetic in itself.
United fans were saying he was better than Coutinho after his start to the season against the sh!te sides. I don’t hear em saying it now! I was at Anfield for the United game. Don’t tink he touched it all game. Useless!
@Micheal Thomas: So ye essentially couldn’t beat a ten man team at home?
@Micheal Thomas: He’s better than Coutinho, who doesn’t even want to be at Anfield.
@Kris Ertz: Delusional
@Micheal Thomas: another united story that ends up been about pool
@Micheal Thomas: I bet you’ve never even been in the Liverpool shop never mind Anfield
@Bognor regis: Sure Utd couldn’t beat a Liverpool team who has no defence or keeper.
@thatsnotme: whatever u say, sorry didn’t catch your name there? I head over 4/5 times a year, heading again for the Merseyside derby in 3 weeks. Typical United fan whose never been anywhere near Manchester!
@Micheal Thomas: still, don’t see Liverpool fans saying their team is above United. Have a dig about a player all you want. Maybe if Liverpool and their fans focused on the bigger picture than petty things like this you’d be higher up the table.
What I don’t get is, why is Lingard never criticised? He’s absolute shite. The worst player in the squad by far in my opinion who tends to offer more to the opponent when he plays.
F**K off mourinho. Ur putrid. F**k off back to Combat 18.
Shit team shit fans
@paul kelly: muppet