Manchester United boss expected quick impact.
Manchester United attacker Henrikh Mkhitaryan did not even make the bench at the weekend against Burnley as his absence from the first team continues.
Mkhitaryan was present for first team training on Monday, but he was not part of the squad last week for the midweek win over Manchester City.
Manchester United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan in action
As one of the club’s marquee summer signings, Mkhitaryan’s continued omission has been perplexing to everybody except manager Jose Mourinho.
Yet this was not a scenario Mourinho saw coming. A look at his comments after Mkhitaryan signed in July shows that, with the manager excited for an instant impact.
He told United’s official club website: “I am delighted he has chosen to sign for United. I believe he will make an impact on the team very quickly as his style of play is suited to the Premier League. We are all looking forward to working with him.”
Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Wayne Rooney during training
Mourinho’s prediction was evidently wrong here, but United supporters remain hopeful that his initial judgement will prove correct.
The Armenian had a slow start at Borussia Dortmund too, and will be invested in making a success of himself at Old Trafford, and bouncing back from his disappointing start.
Part of the problem is fitting him into the team and establishing which players he fits best around and can establish a rapport with.
Mourinho cannot work that out with Mkhitaryan in the stands, and needs to get him on the pitch instead and find a way to get it to work.
Manchester United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan in action
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