Man Utd lack midfield “mad dogs”, says Jose Mourinho

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has stressed that his side’s midfield lack any “mad dogs” that would make them more competitive in the middle of the park.

Mourinho was disappointed in his squad yet again following their lacklustre 2-2 draw away to Premier League strugglers Southampton yesterday evening.

Have United been lacking?: what you need to know

1. United have lost four of 14 Premier League games this season
2. They lost to Brighton & Hove Albion, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and arch-rivals Manchester City
3. They have won just three out of the last nine Premier League games
4. They have only scored 22 goals and conceded 23
5. They are 16 points behind league leaders Manchester City

Speaking to reporters after their score draw at St Mary’s Stadium, Mourinho revealed that his side are lacking any real bite in the middle of the park and hinted that United’s tactics do not matter if his players don’t have a winning character.

“It doesn’t matter the system we play,” Mourinho said via BBC Sport.

“(Not winning) has to do with the characteristics of the players.

“With all due respect, we don’t have many mad dogs that bite the ball and press all the time. We don’t have many people with that spirit.”

What if Man Utd could sign one “mad dog” in January?

Mourinho’s continuous criticism of his squad seems to hint that the Old Trafford boss will be eyeing up players in the January transfer window.

Rather than bring in a whole bunch of new players, Mourinho has previously stated that he only has eyes on one player, telling reporters: “Honestly, I don’t think we are going to sign.

“If we do, I would say one player. I don’t see us going more than that.”

So who could United target?

Needing someone with a bit of bite in the middle of the pitch, perhaps rumoured want-away Frenchman Adrien Rabiot could be a viable option, with the Paris Saint-Germain man linked with moves away from the oil-rich French club.

His contract is expiring this summer so perhaps a decent offer in January will convince the French club to sell?

Or how about fellow PSG midfielder Marco Verratti? Another fantastic option but could be harder to prize away from Thomas Tuchel’s clutches.

Closer to home, maybe Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves, who has attracted further attention since the club’s promotion to the Premier League.

Although Wolves’ form has slumped of late, Neves has been consisted throughout. He can also provide that moment of magic, be it goals, set pieces or passing ability, that could help Mourinho’s side become more effective in the final third.

The possibilities are endless…

The post Man Utd lack midfield “mad dogs”, says Jose Mourinho appeared first on Squawka News.

From Squawka NewsSquawka News https://ift.tt/2BNslnk