Man Utd pre-season’s been “very bad” because of World Cup absentees, says Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has claimed Man United’s pre-season has been “very bad” thanks to the number of World Cup absentees not able to train with the squad. 

United travelled to the USA to take part in the International Champions Cup, but are missing a range of players who featured in the quadrennial tournament, including the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini, Marcus Rashford, Ashley Young, Phil Jones and Paul Pogba.

Also missing are Jesse Lingard, Marcos Rojo, Victor Lindelof, David de Gea, Nemanja Matic and Fred.

To make matters worse, Alexis Sanchez hasn’t been able to travel to America due to a visa issue.

De Gea, Matic and Fred will join the squad next week before the third tour game against AC Milan in Los Angeles.

“He is a new player with us but everything is really bad and then we go to the UK and have to play the Premier League. The broadcasters were not nice to us with the Friday match [against Leicester City on 10 August], which complicates more things,” said Mourinho, via the Guardian.

“So I’m worried because I’m not training [with everyone] and then I go to the Premier League without lots of players. But it is what it is and we have to try and make the best out of it with the players we have here.”

New signing Diogo Dalot is also missing through injury. On the topic of Sanchez, Mourinho said: “It is really bad, really sad, not good for him, for me, the team,” the manager said.

“There is no one to blame; the club is making the effort. I have to respect the US authorities in their process of visas. But hopefully he joins us later because it could be important to work with Martial, Alexis and Mata – the players we have in attack for start of the season. There is no Lukaku, Lingard or Rashford.”

On the issue of new signings, Mourinho said: “I’ve no idea. I’m not going to lie to you, I’m not going to say somebody is coming or nobody is coming.”

United’s first game of the Premier League season is against Leicester on August 10.

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