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Jose Mourinho alongside Alexis Sanchez

Atmosphere at Man United under Mourinho 'wasn't healthy' – Sanchez

The Chilean said he lost his confidence under the club’s former manager despite claiming the Portuguese was one of the best coaches in the world

ALEXIS SANCHEZ SAID former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho created an unhealthy atmosphere at Old Trafford.

Mourinho was sacked in December and replaced by caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer amid reports of dressing-room unrest at United.

Sanchez was lured from Premier League rivals Arsenal to United by Mourinho in January last year, however, the 30-year-old forward fell out of favour prior to the Portuguese’s departure.

Chile international Sanchez – who has only scored five goals in all competitions since arriving in Manchester – said he lost his confidence under Mourinho.

“Mourinho is one of the best coaches in the world, in the way that he coaches, how he studies videos, the way he goes about things,” Sanchez told the BBC.

“But within the group there was that feeling that you were in the team, then out. Sometimes I didn’t play, then I did, then I didn’t and as a player you lose confidence.

“Then an atmosphere was created that wasn’t healthy.”

Sanchez, who is in doubt for United’s FA Cup fifth-round trip to Chelsea on Monday, added: “I’ve played football since I was five and if I have the ball taken away from me, it’s as if I lose my joy.”

The forward has struggled under interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as well, with the current boss even claiming that he “can’t do anything about Alexis” and that the 30-year-old needs to “find himself.” 

“He (Solskjaer) hasn’t spoken to me a great deal about what I have to do on the pitch, but I think I’m an experienced player and I think I know what I need to do and what I shouldn’t do,” Sanchez added.

“I’m a player that, if I’m not in contact with the ball, I lose that spark, and sometimes I want to play in every game. You’re in, you’re out, and I’m used to playing.

“It’s not an excuse because if I go on for 10, 20 minutes, I have to perform because that’s what I’m here for, to make a difference.

“I would like to have brought more joy to the club. Yes, it worries me because I believe in my abilities as a player, I want to show it.”

“I don’t know how people see me, but football is what I’ve loved from being a kid and it’s my passion,” Sanchez continued.

Sanchez also confirmed that he was injured after an assistant referee ran into him while warming up during United’s Champions League fixture against Ligue 1 holders PSG. The Chile international underwhelmed after replacing injured team-mate Jesse Lingard on the stroke of half-time.

“The referee’s assistant, when we had a counter-attack, came flying down the line, and I had my foot there and he crashed into me. Bang,” Sanchez said.

“And I went back to the dugout and I said to [reserve goalkeeper] Sergio Romero: ‘I’ve just been whacked and I’m about to go on’. I’ve got bruising but that’s not an excuse for not being on my game in the way that I normally am.”

Should he be fit, Sanchez could have a big part to play for the club in the coming weeks, with both Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard set to miss out on upcoming games with Chelsea and Liverpool due to injury. 

And while Solskjaer believes there will be a chance for the former Arsenal star to show his best, he has also hinted at giving youngsters Tahith Chong and Angel Gomes opportunities to prove their value.

Aside from Chelsea and Liverpool, Manchester United will also face Crystal Palace and Southampton before heading to France for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain.

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    Mute Robert O Farrell
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    Feb 17th 2019, 9:16 AM

    I’ve never seen a top footballer regress as quickly as he has. They need to offload him to China ASAP- Shane Long would be a better option than this lad on current form..

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    Mute Chris Tobin
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    Feb 17th 2019, 10:02 AM

    @Robert O Farrell: harsh on shane long

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    Mute EnKy
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    Feb 17th 2019, 9:08 AM

    Poisonous atmosphere still in your lungs causing you to choke against PSG so, Alexis?

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    Mute Danger
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    Feb 17th 2019, 9:22 AM

    @EnKy: they didn’t choke. Well beaten, 99% of utd fans who saw the game would agree. Sanchez has been awful – he should give back his wages. How did he not see the linesman? He hardly got tackled by an American footballer.

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    Mute grandslamkbo
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    Feb 17th 2019, 9:44 AM

    @Danger: In fairness, the OP didn’t say United choked. He was referring to Sanchez.

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    Mute kearnsy boston
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    Feb 17th 2019, 10:21 AM

    @Danger: well said.

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    Mute kearnsy boston
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    Feb 17th 2019, 10:21 AM

    @Danger: well said.

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    Mute Danger
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    Feb 17th 2019, 12:05 PM

    @grandslamkbo: fair point, I stand corrected

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    Mute Danger
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    Feb 17th 2019, 12:05 PM

    @grandslamkbo: fair point, I stand corrected.

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    Mute Mark Flynn
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    Feb 17th 2019, 9:37 AM

    Just goes to show how much of a difference a manger makes! There is a great player in Sanchez somewhere, you don’t just lose it like that! Wenger was always a great coach with attacking players! Don’t think ole is going to be able sprinkle any of his magic dust on him either

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    Mute Stephen Lyons
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    Feb 17th 2019, 10:25 AM

    @Mark Flynn: The manger worked wonders for good oul Mary and Joseph alright

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    Mute Mark Flynn
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    Feb 17th 2019, 10:46 AM

    @Stephen Lyons: oh shit it’s the grammar police

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    Mute Stephen Lyons
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    Feb 17th 2019, 11:16 AM

    @Mark Flynn: oh shit it’s the no craic brigade, it was a joke

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    Mute Darach Malone
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    Feb 17th 2019, 9:52 AM

    Barca saw it first by letting him go when they bought Suarez. Some good days at Arsenal but he should have been a little less greedy and gone Man City where their style would suit him better.

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    Mute Joe O'riordan
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    Feb 17th 2019, 11:46 AM

    @Darach Malone: greedy ? And you wouldnt leave your job for more money or as much of a raise as you could possibly have??

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    Mute Peter Roche
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    Feb 17th 2019, 1:33 PM

    @Joe O’riordan: no, when u have a chance of winning trophies at City. No chance at Utd

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    Mute Darach Malone
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    Feb 17th 2019, 4:24 PM

    @Joe O’riordan: The phrase I used was ‘a little less greedy’ whereas you just saw the word greedy and misunderstood the post. Sanchez, as a free agent, was offered outrageous money by a number of clubs. City wouldn’t offer him as much as Utd did, so he went there. I believe had he taken a little less money and gone to City, he would be in a better place today as City’s style of football suits his style better, in my opinion. And if your number one priority for a job is money then good luck to you.

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    Mute Derek Kelly☘
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    Feb 17th 2019, 10:24 AM

    He’s suited to been the big fish in a small pond. Didn’t pull up any trees at Barcelona ider. Struggling at United like many before him. Expectation gets the better of some of these so called big players.

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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
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    Feb 17th 2019, 12:17 PM

    These next 2 weeks will be the most important of his United career. If he’s available for Chelsea and what’s coming after, he’d wanna pull his head out of his arse, quick smart. A massive 2 weeks for the club.

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    Mute Paully kells
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    Feb 17th 2019, 3:55 PM

    @Nollaig Elliot: well said..excuses are running out now,sad thing about it is that don’t see many clubs willing take him off utds hands with the mad wages he’s on..maybe hel do one to China?hope Im wrong but it’s hard see it working out at utd.you can see in he’s comments ole getting fed up with the inconsistency too only thing about inconsistency is your good/bad Sanchez has very rarely been good with utd.

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