International breaks have ever been the biggest cause of concern for soccer clubs all over the world especially if we talk about the high profile sides who spent tons of money to bring in best players and then if they are asked to leave the players for international assignments, it feels like taking everything out of them. If we talk about the premier league sides Manchester United and its newly appointed manager Jose Mourinho, Portuguese is already under lots of stress to prove his worth for the new side and now when he is up to his first daunting faceoff with city rival Manchester City, he has already found an excuse for any possible shoddy form this Saturday. He, expectedly, blames international breaks as the possible cause of damage to them since most of their South American players will only arrive back just a day beforehand. Former Everton boss admitted it is only making their wining process complicated as thirteen United players are now out for their international assignments and playing with their national squads.
Specifically talking about Ecuador’s Antonio Valencia and Argentine fringe players Marcos Rojo and Sergio Romero, he explained since they will only be returning to the club on Sept. 9, it is more than difficult for them to adjust their game for the premier league clash. As far selected squad for the game is concerned, Wayne Rooney, Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw have been named in the first squad by new Three Lions manager Sam Allardyce’s to play for the English side hence they will be joining Red Devils at the last moment only. Likewise, other players like David De Gea and Juan Mata (Spain); Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial (France); Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Armenia); Daley Blind (Netherlands); and Eric Bailly (Ivory Coast) are as well busy with their national squads.
Talking about the problem and how it could adversely affect them, Mourinho told MUTV, “Some are coming back on the Monday before the Manchester City match but some are coming back on Friday. The day before Man City, we will still have Sergio Romero, Marcos Rojo and Antonio Valencia arriving.
“It will be a complicated process but we know it is like this when we have these players. And I would love all of the players to go because it would mean that everybody is being selected for their national teams.”
José Mourinho: