José Mourinho believes Manchester United may not claim more points than last season but will prove to be a more impressive team.
United finished second with 81 points last May, trailing 19 behind the champions, Manchester City. Mourinho’s side have already lost twice this term but have won their past two league games and have nine points from five matches.
“I am not saying we are going to have more points than last season because last season we collect a very acceptable level,” the manager said. “I think we are going to be a better team. We are going to play better than we did but I think it’s going to be a very difficult season. Not just for us, also for the others because the others they can say exactly the same as I am saying and they can say: ‘Oh, Manchester United, good team, good squad, City good squad, good team.’”
Mourinho stated in pre-season that it would be a tough campaign and nothing has altered his opinion. “I am optimistic, but a difficult season, yes,” he said. “I don’t change that because we won two matches in the Premier League. You see the level of the teams: you see [the] Liverpool squad, City squad, Chelsea squad, Tottenham squad, Arsenal improving. It’s going to be difficult.”
Mourinho will drop Anthony Martial and select Alexis Sánchez for Wolves’ visit to Old Trafford on Saturday. The move may disappoint a player who scored against Young Boys in midweek and has an uneven relationship with the manager. The Frenchman was one of United’s better performers in the 3-0 win at Stade de Suisse, with his first goal since 20 January.
Mourinho said: “Sánchez plays tomorrow because Martial played 90 minutes and Sánchez played zero.” The manager added that the Chilean, like all of his squad, had to improve. “Every player has another level to step up,” he said.
Another player to step aside will be Diogo Dalot, who impressed on debut at Young Boys. “I want him in this process of adaptation to play totally fresh, so he’s not playing tomorrow,” Mourinho said. “He plays Tuesday again [against Derby in the Carabao Cup]. To play for Manchester United is difficult enough for a kid of 19 coming from another country and after an important [knee] injury and surgery.”