Jose Mourinho: Manchester United boss ready to send a signal of intent to the Premier League starting with Leicester in the Community Shield
Bullish boss to learn lessons of 12 months ago when under-prepared Chelsea side struggled in opening months of the season
JOSE MOURINHO is confident his big guns will be fully prepared for battle this time around.
He is ready to give new boys Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan a run out at Wembley - along with Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial as part of an exciting four-pronged attack.
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The new Manchester United boss was accused of under-cooking his Chelsea troops this time 12 months ago.
He gave them an extra week off after winning the Premier League title and it showed during a diasstrous start to their defence.
The Special One never really recovered from it - and he was gone from Stamford Bridge by mid December.
This time there have been more concerns about his first pre-season in charge at Old Trafford - particularly during a chaotic tour of China.
They were unable to train properly because of the heat and saw a Manchester ‘derby’ against City in Beijing called off because the pitch wasn’t fit.
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However as he prepares for the Community Shield on Sunday - and the Premier League opener at Bournemouth a week later - he is sure it’ll be all right on the night.
Asked about the importance of the meeting with champions Leicester, he said: “Everything is important. But our pre-season was strange.
“It was good for some players but not enough for others. The number of matches was not enough. The match not played against City was really bad for us.
“The week of work I can change and say the week of no work in China was really bad for us, so we need to train and play.
“We need minutes for the players. We need to train against other teams like against Everton and Galatasaray, but that is over.
“Now you have no chance against other teams. Now we have Leicester and it is not a training session. It is a game.”
Mourinho admits some of his players will not be in tip-top shape for the first weeks of the season - but hopes they will be near enough.
He said: “It depends on the meaning of fit - sometimes I get a bit confused.
“What is it to be fit - ready to play or on top of your performance level. If you’re talking about performance level, then not at all. Not individually or collectively.
“If fit means no injuries, a small number of injuries and ready to play at a good level, then I think so.
“Next week will be a good working week. Monday a day off and then we play Sunday. So Tuesday to Sunday one more week. I think we’ll arrive in good condition.”
Mourinho admitted it is tough to get this group of players to think and play the way he wants to - after two years under Louis van Gaal.
But he believes his message is starting to get across to the squad after a month of working under him.
He added: “Your words are very correct. My teams are different from Louis Van Gaal’s and that is correct.
“I want to make clear that I am not saying mine are better or have better ideas or my principles are better.
“Yes, my teams are different to Mr Van Gaal. It is a difficult situation to change dynamics.
“It would be easier for me to have 20 new players and start from zero. For two years, they had principles of play that are not mine, clearly.
“But the players are players and without lising their identity, tey try to adapt to what the manager wants.
“After two years, there are things in their brain that are automatic and that is difficult to change.
We are working hard and they are trying everything.
“We make mistakes and we are far from perfect, but they are giving everything. Step by step it will be my team.”