Jose Mourinho fears Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Michael Carrick will miss EFL Cup final
Mourinho also warned that United’s season could unravel because of the physical demands being put on his players and criticised the Football Association’s decision to allow their FA Cup quarter final against Chelsea to be moved to Monday night for television coverage.
That is only three days before they play the second leg of their Round of 16 Europa League tie and Mourinho, who mocked Manchester City’s decision to play a youth team in the FA Cup last season, warned he cannot take any competition lightly.
“Honestly, I don’t think he [Mkhitaryan] is fit,” said Mourinho. “Him and Michael, I think they are both out, but this is based on my experience, not on my medical knowledge and not based on tests.
“I think no chance. But I repeat it’s just my experience, a calf, a hamstring, even if it’s minor minor, some fibre damage, I think they’re out.
“I don’t think the pitch was the problem, it was OK. They tried their best to have the club in the best possible conditions, the injuries were the consequence of an accumulation of matches. If you are playing one game a week, you do not pick up these injuries.”
United, though, are sometimes being asked to play three times in a week as they remain in three cup competitions and the moving of their FA Cup game has irked Mourinho.
“I feel really surprised that the decision is made before our draw in Europe,” he added. “Because at this moment nobody knows where we play, where the first and second matches are.
“Imagine we play Chelsea on Monday and go to the second match in Europe in Russia, Turkey or Greece? I think once more the [television] interests are going in front of the clubs and English football’s interests, and nobody cares about it.
“I cannot play against Chelsea with the second team, I cannot play Chelsea with the Under-21s like Manchester City did last year. I cannot do that. We are Manchester United.
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“I don’t do that as Manchester United manager. I don’t do that to the FA Cup because the FA Cup is not guilty of these decisions. The FA Cup is beautiful, the competition is historical. I have to treat Manchester United supporters and the FA Cup in the right way.
“So, what is going to happen is an accumulation of matches. People playing a lot of matches. I have to make some rotation, but some of the boys will have to play in all these consecutive matches. If situations like the Mkhitaryan one or the Carrick one happen, they happen.”
