Jose Mourinho must stop this at Man Utd: Sir Alex Ferguson was total opposite - Ian Wright
Posted Tuesday, May 09, 2017 by Dailystar.co.uk
IAN WRIGHT has blasted Jose Mourinho for repeatedly complaining about Manchester United’s schedule - insisting Sir Alex Ferguson would never have behaved the same way.
United’s squad has been stretched by their busy fixture list over the final two months of the season.
Injuries have mounted up, especially in defence, but Arsenal legend Wright does not believe its an excuse.
Under Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United contended with the demand of matches expected at such a big club.
Jose Mourinho's Manchester United have been stretched by their fixture list in April and May
Their push for Champions League football this season has seen Mourinho turn attentions totally to the Europa League.
Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Arsenal with a weakened side highlighted the manager’s priorities as he rested some stars.
But Wright believes Mourinho has inadvertently convinced his own players they are tired.
"When you are at a club like Manchester United you expect to be heavily involved at the business end of the season,” Wright told The Sun. “If you’re not, something is seriously wrong.
"Whinging about fatigue and injuries really does not wash — and managers certainly shouldn’t bang on about it in public.
"What that has done is sow the feeling of tiredness into the players’ minds at precisely the wrong time. When someone tells you you’re exhausted you start to behave it.
"Back in 1999 under Alex Ferguson, Manchester United won the Treble by playing seven games in May including the last three in ten days.
"That’s because Fergie went for everything. If there was a trophy to be won his mindset was that Man United should be going for it. Nobody would have dared mentioning they were tired then.
"And he most definitely would not have written-off a top four finish and gambled on winning the Europa League to get into the Champions League.”
United’s season now boils down to Europa League success.
Preparations are underway for Thursday’s semi-final second leg against Celta Vigo at Old Trafford (8.05pm), with United leading 1-0 on aggregate.
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