Mourinho Backs Memphis

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has placed on record his belief in winger Memphis Depay, following a frustrating debut season in the Premier League for the Dutchman.

Although not involved in the Portuguese manager's Community Shield squad last Sunday, Mourinho has clearly seen enough from the 22-year-old to suggest he can potentially play a key part in a new era at United.

"Last season is something I don't want to go into too much where Memphis is concerned; all I know is the player that I watched in the 2014 World Cup and the player I watched many times at PSV [Eindhoven]," the boss told journalists at his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to Bournemouth. "With that player in mind, I know I want to keep him - I want to try everything [to help him succeed].

"So far, I have seen a good and professional boy. You can see him driving a nice car and you might think that this guy's not thinking about football, but that is not the case," Mourinho added. "The kid thinks about football a lot and he suffers because he is frustrated with what happened last season, but he will be back."

It’s easy to forget that United have only played five games over a three-week period during pre-season, so some players may be desperate to express themselves. The boss was keen to ease any concerns, insisting that his squad will be fully utilised in the coming weeks.

"It’s natural that players are happier when they’re playing," he said. "In September, we will have the League Cup, the Europa League and the Premier League, so September will be the end of the frustration for these players. Everybody will play in these months and I still believe in Memphis."