Jose Mourinho refused to dwell on Manchester United’s 4-1 thrashing by Liverpool in The Big House dressing room, according to Timothy Fosu-Mensah. United were without 15 players through injury and post-World Cup breaks for their penultimate tour match in Ann Arbor, where they were soundly beaten by Jurgen Klopp’s senior side. Although Mourinho did not start any teenagers, he stressed afterwards ‘this is not my squad, this is not even half of my squad, this is not even 30 per cent of my squad’ and clarified certain players would be cut from his senior set-up ahead of the Premier League opener against Leicester on August 10.
Mourinho added the game ‘gave me nothing at all’ and Fosu-Mensah revealed the United manager’s post-mortem was succinct. “He just said we have to keep going, that’s it,” Fosu-Mensah said. “They are a very good side. I think they did well. We tried to keep working hard and we will have to try to improve.” Despite the 4-1 reverse, Fosu-Mensah impressed in his first start of the pre-season tour but could embark on another season-long loan, having spent last term with Crystal Palace. United have six defenders sidelined currently and Fosu-Mensah admitted he is yet to decide on his plans for the upcoming campaign.
“It has been good,” he added of the tour. “We’ve played against quality opponents. We tried to train how we want to play so I think it has been really good for us. “I have to take it day to day. I’ll keep working hard and if the manager needs me I’ll be ready. I can play right-back, right wing-back, centre-back, in midfield. For me, it’s possible. I’ve played centre-back and right wing-back [on the tour], so for me it’s not a problem. I wouldn’t say in goal! In goal I would be very bad! “Last year I was at Crystal Palace. I think I improved there and I’ve come back a better player. I came back to show that I’ve improved and to show that I’m a better player now. I’ll keep working hard and see what happens. “I don’t know [when I will decide on my future]. I’m here on the tour and I’m focused on my training sessions and on the games. The next game is Real Madrid and we have to focus on that now.”
