Mid-season international friendlies don’t make sense to Mourinho

MANCHESTER: Scheduling mid-season international friendlies alongside qualification matches makes no sense, says Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, after defenders Phil Jones and Chris Smalling picked up injuries on England duty last week.

Smalling started in England’s friendly defeat in Germany but then had to pull out of the squad with a leg injury, while Jones suffered a toe injury in training.

With both players missing England’s 2-0 World Cup qualifier victory over Lithuania, Mourinho questioned the need for friendlies during the domestic season.

“I am totally against the friendly matches,” he told Sky Sports.

“I think friendly matches for the national team only make sense before the final phases. But mid-season friendly matches mixed with qualification matches, I don’t think that makes sense.”

With 13 United players involved in international games over the past week, Mourinho said his side were at a disadvantage against eighth-placed West Brom. “If you compare our situation with our opponents, West Bromwich Albion, only one player on international duty,” he added. “They had time to work, time to rest and prepare. It’s going to be hard.”