Patrick Rees
Manchester United kicked their new Premier League season in style as they defeated Edie Howe’s men with a comfortable scoreline of three goals to one. Now, the next hurdle for the Devils are the Saints (sounds ironic).
Claude Puel will be traveling from the St. Mary’s to the Old Trafford this Friday to play the second game of the league and all eyes will be on Paul Pogba. The recent acquisition of Manchester United was unable to feature against Bournemouth due to his suspension, but many believe that this is the time for him, but is he ready to kick his season off?
Well, the Frenchman didn’t play any game in the pre-season tour, and has been at the club for just couple of weeks, amidst all that, the manager said:
“He has adapted really easily because he knows the club, knows everybody. He has no need to have time to adapt, but he’ll need time to build his condition and his understanding of how the team plays and how he’ll fit in with that.”
“He’s ready to play,” declared the boss. “We played against Leicester with players with less training than him and we look at that match as a way to improve them, to accelerate that process. With Paul, it’s a bit of the same – not one single minute of any pre-season match or friendly but almost two weeks of work with us. Sometimes with the group, sometimes separately, and the condition is okay to play some minutes and to accelerate the process.”
Jose Mourinho was also asked about Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s life as a Red, and the boss replied:
“I see him happy,” insisted Mourinho. “I ask about his family, his wife, his kids – I know how important these things are to him – integration, house and everything is fine and everybody is happy. He has a very high motivation, so I see him here, no doubts, for the next two years.”
The Devils have completed their four signings of the summer, but still, the rumours were linking more players with the Old Trafford club and questions regarding the same were asked, and Mourinho said:
“The market is open until 31 August, but I am very happy with the players I have. I keep saying that I don’t talk about players from other clubs.”
Given his brilliant home record, he was asked whether he could bring back that lost pride of the Old Trafford, and he simply said:
“Not me, but the team, yes. The fans can also help. Everything starts there: the relationship between the team and the fans. If there is a connection then the factor of being really strong at home has to back. The way we play [will help] and if the fans play [a part] there’ll be no chance for the opponent.”
