UnitedinFocus.com has been following the Manchester United tour of North America on location and after the 2-1 win over Salt Lake City, UnitedInFocus social media manager Dave Murphy was present at Jose Mourinho’s press conference.
Dave asked Jose whether Victor Lindelof’s surging runs from the first game were something we could expect to see from the defender or, considering they were notable by their absence in Utah, whether the new arrival had been told to be more disciplined.
Jose said it would depend on the shape but suggested Lindelof would be the player with the responsibility to bring the ball forward if United played with a three man defence “It’s the difference between playing with three in the back or four in the back,” Jose told Dave. “When you play with three you project the wingers and you need the central defenders to drive and to come with the ball. When you play with four at the back if you project the right back and left back you have only two defenders and they have to share the width and they keep more of their position.”
Mourinho reserved special praise for the Swede. “His quality of passing was always good, he’s technically very very good but obviously playing with three at the back he has more freedom to attack spaces in midfield,” he said.
Watch here:
United in Focus got the chance to ask Jose about Lindelof’s surging runs and will we expect to see more of them when the season starts pic.twitter.com/4T2fLKfcse
— United In Focus (@UnitedInFocus) July 18, 2017
Next up in their schedule, United play against Manchester City.