Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has admitted that he will give youngsters a chance in the Red Devils’ first pre-season fixture against Wigan Athletic.
The 20-time English champions will make a short trip to the DW Stadium on June 16 and it will be the former Inter Milan and Real Madrid manager’s first match in charge as United boss. The Portuguese tactician has already held talks the head of United academy, Nicky Butt to find out about the best young prospects at the academy.
During his interview, Mourinho confirmed that two young defenders Tyrell Warren and Axel Tuanzebe could be in action for United when they face Wigan. The 53-year-old manager admitted that he will work closely with the academy chiefs to know more about the young prospective talents and help them in making their way into the club’s first team.
“The first game against Wigan is very important as I am going to have some players I don’t know very well who I am bringing into the first team,” Mourinho told United’s official website.
“I don’t know them well but I just trust Nicky Butt [Head of Academy] and John Murtough [Head of Football Development] and the youth structure’s judgement.
“Obviously I am going to work closely with them and I’m going to have to trust them when they say we have a few players who, in a couple of years, can be first-team players. It’s important to know them and give them the opportunity to work.”
After the clash against Wigan, United will fly to China where they will face Borussia Dortmund and local rivals Manchester City in the other pre-season fixtures. Mourinho confirmed that Wayne Rooney, Chris Smalling and Marcus Rashford will travel with the squad, but not feature against the Bundesliga outfit and Pep Guardiola’s side.
On the trio, Mourinho said: “I’ll take them but I’m not going to play them.” The trio were part of the England’s Euro 2016 squad, who crashed out of the tournament following their 2-1 defeat to Iceland in the Round of 16 clash.
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