Two weeks after suffering a humbling loss to league leaders Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester United welcome Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace to Old Trafford, looking to bounce back with a win and make ground on the title challengers; the aforementioned Blues, Liverpool, and Chelsea, with Spurs and Arsenal following swiftly behind.
It was another frosty press conference on an equally chilly Friday afternoon in Manchester with United manager Jose Mourinho, who must be frankly pretty knackered by the repetitive barrage of echoing questions on a weekly basis, taking questions from the inquisitive media.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, Mourinho responded bluntly to an initial enquiry if he had been misquoted previously and the Portuguese has responded with an emphatic rebuttal, accusing the press of manipulating his previous comments regarding his young players;
I don’t play your game. I don’t play the game of the take out of context and do what you want I don’t play your game and I have nothing to say I don’t lose my time. Next question this side please.
It is quite apparent that Mourinho has a massive target on his back, and his answer is fairly understandable one when it is realized that every quote he makes is ultimately seized upon and exacerbated.
When asked the more pressing question as to the condition of this squad to face the floundering Eagles Mourinho confirmed that he has a full 23-man squad to choose from, after Anthony Martial and Marouane Fellaini – who were nursing slight injuries – were exempt from international duty and have consequently regained fitness.
Martial in particular would have been a massive loss, seeing as the Frenchman is on the quest for a record only held by three previous Man Utd men.
This campaign United have made their worst start to a league season since 1989-90 but with results going their way this weekend can slightly starting working towards a top four position.
Manchester United versus Crystal Palace kicks off at 6pm this Saturday.