Mourinho's Promise For Galaxy Game

Jose Mourinho is planning to give each of his Manchester United players a half each during Saturday’s first match of Tour 2017, presented by Aon, against LA Galaxy on Saturday.

The Reds boss spoke to MUTV about his team selection on Friday and reflected on an excellent first week of training with his squad in Los Angeles, explaining the players now have nine hours of work under their belts following a few days of double sessions at the impressive UCLA campus. The manager also revealed more about his thinking for United's first pre-season test.

“The approach will be 45 minutes each,” he told MUTV. “We brought [Demetri] Mitchell and Scott [McTominay] to protect against injuries but at this moment everyone is ready to play. I am going to play with two different teams, 45 minutes for each player which is continuity in relation to the work they have been doing – they have nine hours of work done and tomorrow they will have nine hours and 45 minutes.”

Asked whether he has been impressed by the players’ training efforts this week, Mourinho said: “No because I know what they are. It’s not a surprise for me, I keep saying that they are one of the best groups I have had. They are good people, good professionals and they are good friends. They like to work and also to spend time together. I’m not surprised.

“The first three days were really hard because we had two sessions so nine hours of high intensity work in three days after the holidays was hard. Now it’s a bit reduced to be in the condition to start competing because it’s about competing about the other opponents. We now welcome these first two matches against the two American teams. Teams with lots of matches [under their belt] and who are in the main part of their season so it will be difficult to find the right intensity to play against them but it’s good for us.”

The United boss also spoke about the arrival of his new players, Romelu Lukaku and Victor Lindelof, and how well they had settled in so far.

“They are lucky to be here, they are lucky to be with such a good group. It’s so easy [to settle here]. Romelu is a bit English, Lindelof speaks perfect English which is a plus and helps, and I look at them and I don’t even think of them as new guys because the integration has been very good.”