Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said his team will start the English Premier League with a disadvantage as post-World Cup breaks for his players have left him less time to prepare with his full team than some rival clubs.
Mourinho explained he was pleased with how his side has played in the pre-season so far, despite poor results. United drew 1-1 with Club America before a goalless draw against San Jose Earthquakes.
“I have an incredible commitment of the people that is involved in the process of preparing a good pre-season. I am happy with the matches. The evolution of the matches,” said Mourinho.
But I don’t have the players to work with. I don’t have the majority of the players that are going to be in the squad on the 9th of August when the market closes, and we can make the squad official for the season. So, of course I am not happy. Of course I am not happy to have just a few players.Jose Mourinho
Former Manchester United player Paul Scholes, however, did not agree with Mourinho.
I think he’s got every resource available to him to have a team to win the league.Paul Scholes
“That's what the fans expect, that's what I'm sure his bosses above him expect. He's at Manchester United, a team, okay, they haven't won the league for five years, they had a great run of winning titles. But they're a big club, it's like a Barcelona or Real Madrid. You're expected to win every year, you're expected to win something. Manchester United are expected to win the league, full stop.”
United will play three International Champions Cup matches, the first against AC Milan on 25 July, then against Liverpool on the 28th and finally Real Madrid on the 31st. They then head to Germany for a friendly against Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on 5 August.
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