Turns out that all the rumors about Jose Mourinho having problems with Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan were false, the player isn't injured either or going through some existential crisis. His only problem is adaptation, much like Paul Pogba only the adaptation process might take much longer. But in order to calm everyone down with all the rumors around this player, Jose Mourinho had to come out and explain his situation in more detail.
Talking to the press, Jose Mourinho said: "Sometimes I confuse the meaning of 'fit' in the English language - sometimes fit means that you aren't injured. Mkhitaryan is not injured, he is training with the team at 100 per cent. Some players have the profile of adapting easily, but some other players need more time to feel the intensity. Some players need time to feel the competitiveness and the level of work without the ball. Mikhi needs time to become the top player we know he can be. Of course we believe in Mikhi and sooner or later there will be no problem."
Mourinho also praised Michael Carrick for his performance against Manchester City: "One thing is to be 25 years old, another is 35. That's the logic of things. But the only thing I can say is that he's phenomenal, no doubts about it. I think I have to manage him, I cannot expect from Michael what I can from [Marcus] Rashford or [Ander] Herrera in terms of playing seven consecutive matches. But he's phenomenal.
"There is no relation to victories but, for sure, he gives us important things - stability in our game, mental freedom to the other guys around him to be more offensive. He's not just a player, he's someone who has a big understanding of the game. You cannot stop the clock. It's a pity to have some players who become older. In five years' time, [Lionel] Messi will be 34 and we'll all be crying. Michael is such an important player and he's very difficult to replace."
Photo credit: Manchester United FC
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