GettyJose Mourinho is a man you don’t want to annoy.
In fact, even if you don’t annoy him, he might sell you anyway, just ask Juan Mata.
But the former Chelsea manager has spoken of his frustrations with his new signings, barely a fortnight after bringing them to the club.
That’s because as Manchester United squad jet off to China next week, the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Bastian Schweinsteiger will not travel with the team, as they enjoy a break after their Euro 2016 exploits.
Quite what Zlatan did in France to deserve a rest I’m not sure, but each to their own.
England’s Euro failures will go with the United side to the Far East, but won’t play any games, which is practically what they did in France last month, so they should be used to it.
Wayne Rooney, Marcus Rashford and Chris Smalling will all still go with the team though, as Mourinho looks to build team spirit ahead of the new season.
GettyPresumably team spirit was low last season, as United’s squad were bored out of their minds by Louis van Gaal’s ‘philosophy’.
Speaking to Adidas Front Row, Mourinho said:
The fact that we won’t travel with every player, from a tactical point of view, breaks a little bit the objective of a pre-season tour, but that’s the way it is.
We cannot make miracles and the players cannot go directly from the Euros to pre-season.
They need their break and we need them for the next 10 months.
It will be a bit strange, especially for a new manager that needs to know the players and to work with the players.
GettyMourinho’s side take on Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund in China in a week’s time, giving Mourinho two early tests in his United tenure.
Admittedly, the tour of China is ultimately a money spinning venture (going to China for money, who’d possibly do that?!), but given Jose’s rivalry with Pep Guardiola, he’d have wanted Zlatan with his squad to land an early blow.
Never mind, we’ll have to wait for September 10 to see Zlatan vs Pep.
