Ahead of the 2016/17 Premier League season, things are already looking up at Manchester United according to Wayne Rooney. The Red Devils skipper claimed that the appointment of Jose Mourinho has already had a positive effect on the squad and club as a whole because the manager has brought back a ‘winning mentality’.
After the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, the club has had its lows in the last three seasons. David Moyes’ reign saw United finish outside the top four, eventually finishing seventh after winning the title the previous season. Under Louis van Gaal, the club did manage to finish in the top four in his first season but fell away in the second, missing out on Champions League football yet again.
Mourinho’s arrival has already raised hopes and expectations at the club as has the players’ spirits which took a beating in Van Gaal’s second season. The Old Trafford club had only scored 49 goals in the league last season and the style of play was dire and did not fit the ethos of attacking football the club was famous for.
In an interview with Manchester radio station Key 103, Rooney said: “It’s always great to get a new manager but when you get someone in the stature of Jose Mourinho he’s great to work under and he's brought a winning mentality back to the club.
“Manchester United as a football club we have to win and we have to deliver for him. There’s pressure on the players but we’re ready and I think this season we’ll give a real challenge on all fronts.
United’s pre-season tour came to a premature end after the Manchester Derby in Beijing was cancelled due to a poor pitch and adverse weather conditions. The club returned to Manchester where new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic joined the squad for his first ever training session at the club.
Rooney also touched upon the new signings such as Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly and said they were ‘great signings’ for the club.
“He's come in, he's been great with the players,” Rooney continued on Mourinho. “The training has been hard but enjoyable.”
“We’re ready, we’re working hard. We know it’s a big season for us. He’s made, in my opinion, some great signings who have gelled in really well with the squad so it’s exciting times.”
Mourinho’s summer clearout may see many players leave United
While the squad are preparing for a challenging season, some players may not play a part in the coming season. Of the lot, the most senior player is Bastian Schweinsteiger. The German midfielder, who announced his retirement from international football, could leave Old Trafford after he was deemed surplus to Mourinho’s requirements.
A number of youngsters are also speculated to be on their way out of the club after they were not spotted at the club’s training session. Adnan Januzaj, Andreas Pereira, Paddy McNair, Axel Tuanzebe and Will Keane could also depart while the futures of Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, who are currently injured, are in doubt.
