Jose Mourinho says he “didn’t learn anything” from Manchester United’s pre-season tour because he already knows about his players. It has been a tumultuous trip to the USA for the United manager, who has had complaints about most things when asked, including missing key players, extended holidays and transfers.
But his trip ended on a high as United beat Real Madrid 2-1 in Miami in the International Champions Cup, although Mourinho does not believe he has gained any knowledge about his included first-team players.
“I didn’t learn anything [from the tour],” he said. “I know what Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Alexis Sanchez are.
“I know the kids are very young and need time to grow up, I know my players gave everything and in the last 15 minutes, we are dead and they bring on Toni Kroos and Asensio and Isco and I thought we wouldn’t resist but we did.
“That’s the spirit we need, because our first two or three weeks in the Premier League are going to be really hard for us… we didn’t prepare for that.”
Mourinho hailed his players effort after ending a gruelling two-and-a-half-week schedule with a victory, and set his sights on the new Premier League season.
“People like Herrera, Bailly, Darmian, Mata, all these guys, were phenomenal during the whole pre-season, playing almost every minute of every game,” the United boss added. “The game today – if we win 2-1, we lose 2-1 or draw 2-2 – it doesn’t change anything but of course I know the players and I know I can count on them.
“I know that these guys are amazing professionals and I know that they give everything for the club, for the prestige of the club. The guys were absolutely phenomenal.My players were amazing in their effort but we have more effort in front of us because in a few days, we go to Munich and in 10 days, we start the Premier League.”
Jose Mourinho surprised many by starting Eric Bailly, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Scott McTominay in a back three, while summer signing Fred made his first start for the club, but the formation allowed United’s wing-backs to push on and threaten Real early on.
Darmian started an attack which led to United’s first chance as Sanchez gathered his cross-field pass and picked out Juan Mata, who scuffed a shot into the side-netting on five minutes.
Madrid responded three minutes later with an exquisite attack of their own as Gareth Bale released Alvaro Odriozola on the overlap, and his whipped cross was fired inches wide by Benzema.
Both sides readily exchanged blows in an entertaining start at the Hard Rock Stadium before United made the breakthrough. Again Darmian was the source as he darted behind Theo Hernandez after a quick throw and crossed perfectly for Sanchez to dispatch the opener.
Bale had the chance to draw Real level six minutes later when the lively Vinicius Jnr bamboozled Fosu-Mensah and crossed for the Welshman, but he diverted an effort wide.
And within three minutes United doubled their lead as Sanchez brilliantly knocked a Mata cross into the path of Herrera, who thundered a second through the legs of Kiko Casilla.
De Gea watched a fizzing Bale shot nestle on the roof of his net soon after, but his resolve was beaten on the cusp of half-time as Benzema poked Theo’s fine cross home at the near post. Madrid, rejuvenated by a raft of substitutions, controlled the second period against a United side that visibly fatigued with each passing minute.
After an inconsistent start to life at Old Trafford, Alexis Sanchez’s performance against the European champions served as further evidence that he is primed to kick his first full season at Manchester United with a bang. The Chilean had a hand in both goals, clinically dispatching Darmian’s cross for the opener, before expertly laying on the second for Herrera. His work rate and endeavour in the second half, when his team-mates began to tire, was just as impressive. Sanchez has been United’s star performance in America and they will be hoping for more of the same when the Premier League rolls around.He was named Man of the Match.