Key quotes: Jose's media round-up

Jose Mourinho spoke to the media on Thursday afternoon ahead of Manchester United’s Premier League fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion.

The boss shed light on Romelu Lukaku’s injury, gave the latest on Marouane Fellaini’s contract situation and offered his thoughts on Brighton’s debut season in the top flight.

Here are the main points from Mourinho's press conference and his interview with MUTV ahead of Friday night's game...

LUKAKU INJURY UPDATE
"Romelu [Lukaku] is injured. Of course, he cannot play this game [against Brighton] but let’s see the improvement.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF FELLAINI
"Fellaini is important. He knows that I want him to stay and he knows that the club wants him to stay. He has an offer from us and it's up to him to yes or no. I am still positive because I feel that he likes to be here. I feel that he likes the feeling of the manager trust him and I think there is a good chance for him to stay, but if he leaves, so be it and be happy.”

DE GEA’S FOURTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD
"That's good. It's quite surprising that in the big international awards, there is never a goalkeeper on them and goalkeepers are fundamental in football teams. David is having a very good season in the club, so I don't see it as a problem and, looking at this season, of course there were a few other players that wouldn't be a bad choice for them to get the award. But I think David was very consistent during the season. He had some, you can say, almost iconic saves, because they were so beautiful, so fantastic in some moments that I feel good. I feel good with it."

BRIGHTON ARE A GOOD TEAM
"I think they are a good team and they are capable of giving us a difficult match. They are not desperate – I think their position is good enough. I don’t think they need more points to survive. They just need mathematical confirmation, but they survive very well all season. We need four points in three matches [to finish second], so if we can leave Brighton in a better position, that’s good."

WHY BAILLY HAS BEEN ABSENT RECENTLY
"He [Bailly] is one of our five central defenders and honestly, my work is not about World Cups and preparing players for the World Cup, or giving chances to players to do the World Cup, but he's the only central defender that his country's not in the World Cup. So I have to make a kind of more emotional, effective choice to try to help my players."

ANY SURPRISES IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE THIS SEASON?
"I would never believe that Southampton are in the position they are [struggling near the bottom]. It’s very strange because they have good players and are a good club with a good structure. They had a good season last season and I never thought they could be in this situation. The profile of the teams – West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City – who have experienced players who are adapted to the Premier League, it’s quite surprising they are in this position for me too. But that’s the Premier League."