Jose Mourinho has spoken about the importance of bringing players through to the first team from the club’s Academy, but says pressure to acquire positive results on a regular basis means opportunities to do so are limited.
So far this season the Portuguese has handed first team debuts to Dominic Solanke, Andreas Christensen and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, while Izzy Brown and Nathan Ake have also been involved with the main squad.
Loftus-Cheek was also introduced as a late substitute in our Premier League draw against Manchester City in January, and Mourinho hopes to be able to call on the young midfielder on a more regular basis next season.
‘This club is very demanding, it’s not easy to play football, the pressure is big,’ said the Blues boss.
‘It’s not the same to play at a club where people just accept a so-so performance or result, or finishing fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth, that’s not the best habitat for a young player to develop.
‘For the player to play in the first team he must be ready. With the level of responsibility and pressure there is no space for a player who is not ready. For example, when did I play Dominic Solanke? I played him when we were winning 5-0 against Maribor. I cannot play Solanke against Southampton with 30 minutes to go with the score at 1-1.
‘I think Ruben will be ready next season. In pre-season he will start with us immediately and there will be matches for him to play. Next season he will be ready, also from a mental point of view.’
Mourinho also explained the reasons behind his desire to continually achieve success, and provided his thoughts on the news that Louis van Gaal, a man he worked under at Barcelona, will retire once his reign at Manchester United comes to a conclusion.
‘I have a job, I want to succeed and I try to do my best all the time,’ said the Portuguese. ‘I fight against defeat and try to win, that’s the nature of the job.
‘When you have a fantastic life, a fantastic family and a good economical situation, if you don’t have the passion for the job, a desire to do things well and get results, you have all the reasons to stop. If I want to work for another 15 to 20 years it’s because I feel that happiness, to work, to compete, to win, to lose.
‘I want to coach Portugal in a World Cup or European Championships, I would like that but if I don’t do it there is no drama. My career is beautiful, I’m happy with it and I just want to carry on and enjoy many more years.
‘Van Gaal has had a fantastic career; I know he dreamed of coaching his country at a World Cup, he did that. He coached the club of his heart, AZ Alkmaar, with great success. He coached the top team in his country, Ajax. He coached two of the best clubs in the world, Barcelona and Bayern, and was champions with both.
‘Now, finally, he’s come to a country where he’s never worked to coach one of the biggest clubs in the world. I think his career is perfect. He has a fantastic family and a beautiful house in Portugal. He loves it there; the people, the weather, the area, the food, so he deserves to stop when he wants and he thinks that will be after Man United.’