ADVERTISEMENT
Jose Mourinho criticises Manchester United travel plans
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has questioned why his South American players had a more difficult journey back to Europe than Manchester City ones.
___5440117___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___5440117___2016___9___9___18___josemourinho-cropped_19m2wr97wqe781uqjzad22e6wu_2
Recommended articles
Antonio Valencia, Sergio Romero and Marcos Rojo have all been away on international duty, recently returning to Manchester ahead of Saturday's derby clash with Pep Guardiola's men.
Mourinho claimed the likes of Nicolas Otamendi and Pablo Zabaleta came straight back to Manchester after performing for Argentina, and hinted it gave them an advantage.
He told reporters at his news conference: "Antonio Valencia was able to get one direct flight to Madrid. Sergio Romero and Marcos Rojo went around the globe, Venezuela, Argentina, Europe.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Manchester City spent money to bring them on a direct flight - or sent the owner's plane. Our boys arrived this morning in time to train."
One man not away on international duty was Zlatan Ibrahimovic, having retired from Sweden duty following Euro 2016.
Ibrahimovic, who famously did not see eye to eye with Guardiola at Barcelona, has rapidly become the United talisman and Mourinho was full of praise for the 34-year-old.
"Zlatan is a phenomenal player who arrives at 34 and still wants more for his career," said the Portuguese.
"He didn't want the Chinese money or the American US dollars; he wanted the most difficult place to play and win.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Zlatan is more about him than us. Our contribution to him, in motivational terms, is zero. This is just his nature."
Ibrahimovic will be denied an intriguing head-to-head battle with City's Sergio Aguero on Saturday as the Argentine is suspended.
Mourinho denied his absence made United's task any easier, though.
"He [Guardiola] could decide to play with [Kelechi] Iheanacho or [Raheem] Sterling," he said.
"He could decide to play with [David] Silva as a fake number nine between the lines. It is clear that they have many options.
ADVERTISEMENT
"That for us, in the preparation of the game, makes us have to go step-by-step with every situation because we are trying to reduce the unpredictability of the game. To try to do this now is more difficult."
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh
Recommended articles
The Intersection of Enthusiasm: United Kingdom's local motorsports and Ghana's rising stars
Video: Watch Fatawu Issahaku’s hat trick in Leicester City’s win against Southampton
RTU suspends coach Abdulai Mumin over match-fixing allegations
Hearts of Oak are better off playing with an empty post than using Richard Attah – Taylor
Sorry for causing you a lot of pain – Dr. Prosper Ogum apologizes to Kotoko fans
Govt hasn't paid us – African Games gold medalist Winnifred Ntumi 'cries' out
Dumsor is part of the reasons why we lost against Legon Cities – Hearts of Oak coach
Black Stars midfielder Daniel Kofi Kyereh to miss rest of season due to injury
