Henrikh Mkhitaryan got a surprise backing from his manager Jose Mourinho. The Armenian has been linked with a move away from United but Mourinho is confident that his future lies at Old Trafford
Mkhitaryan hasn’t been involved in first team action since he suffered an injury during his national team duty with Armenia. He was declared fit but Mourinho didn’t include him in the squad for the last couple of games.
Mourinho insisted the Ex-Borussia Dortmund playmaker needs time to acclimatize himself to Premier League, “He’s not injured. Sometimes I confuse the meaning of fit in the English language. He is training with the team 100 per cent.
“Some players are adapted to come and play, some others, they need more time. Time to feel the intensity and the aggression, the game without the ball, the competitiveness.”
Many players in the past found it hard to get it going in the world’s most famous football league. Angel Di Maria had a same kind of situation when he forced a move to Paris Saint-Germain after spending a single season with United. Mourinho pointed out Di Maria’s example, “When Angel Di Maria arrived at Real Madrid he also had to learn a lot about his game and a new reality. Sometimes it happens – sometimes with defenders but it’s easier for them. For attacking players sometimes they arrive and go straight to success. Other times it takes a little more time.
“Many times players come from different countries. The style of football is different and the reality is different for sure in terms of competitiveness. There’s no other country where it doesn’t matter the team you play against, you have to play at the highest level. If you don’t you have no chance. Mikhi needs time to become the top player he can be.”
United will face Burnley after a morale-boosting win over Manchester City in the EFL Cup.
