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Breaking: Ibrahimovic, Pogba Back For Man United – Mourinho

Published

6 years ago

November 17, 2017

Finally the international break is over and Manchester United are back in Premier League action.

Newcastle are the visitors to Old Trafford on Saturday but United’s injury situation will be top of the agenda as Jose Mourinho faces the media to preview the fixture.

Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are both back in training at Carrington and said to be nearing a return – possibly in time for Saturday’s match.

Marcos Rojo, who has been absent since injuring his knee last season, played 45 minutes for the reserves on Wednesday night and is closing in on a return to first-team action.

The manager will surely be asked about the status of all three players.

Phil Jones has been ruled out after picking up an injury playing for England, but Antonio Valencia, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata should all be fresh after two weeks’ rest.

Stick with us for all the updates LIVE from Carrington.

Mourinho on Ibrahimovic’s recovery

“ He made a full recovery, now you cannot expect him to play 90 mins or consecutive matches like he did all his career, now he needs time to be back for his level, his fitness, his confidence, everything, his sharpness, but by the clinical point of view it is fantastic to be ready.”

Mourinho on Zlatan Ibrahimovic

“Zlatan last season we played with him every minute almost until he was injured, this season we learn how to play without him but he’s a very important player for us and of course welcome back, of course incredible personality to fight such an important injury, we were all saying in 2017 he will be back but one thing is 31 Dec 2017 and another thing is mid-November.

“He was as an injured player the same super pro he is when he’s fit. So fantastic work, same as Marcos, is an important injury too, a big surgery, he played with the young boys on Wednesday and is fine, is confident, is also ready.

“Paul is obviously not the same dimension, was not a surgical situation but was also bad and all three are back.”

Mourinho on Pogba

“Paul you can see that there was, and now I can speak because he’s back, but you can clearly see Manchester United this season before Paul’s injury and after Paul’s injury.

“There are qualities in our football that influence our approach in matches, with Pogba and without Pogba, that’s as simple as that.”

Mourinho on United possibly breaking a home record

“We don’t play for records and if you concede a goal but we score two at least I’m happy.

“We defend as a team, we try to defend as a team and our numbers show exactly that collective effort, but the objective is to win matches at home, the objective is not to concede goals, of course if you don’t concede you are closer to win matches but that is not an obsession for us.

“The record means absolutely nothing for us. We lost the last match – we need points.

“I know the way Newcastle plays and the way Benitez prepares his teams, we need to get back to the point we need.”