Mourinho explains new coaching set-up

Manchester United’s pre-season trip to the United States is not just a period of vital importance for the players, but also for the first team’s new-look coaching team, according to manager Jose Mourinho.

The departure of the Portuguese’s long-term assistant Rui Faria at the end of last season prompted changes, which means that United hero Michael Carrick, former Under-18s coach Kieran McKenna and new arrival Stefano Rapetti will be among those supporting the boss during 2018/19.

Speaking exclusively to MUTV before the team’s third day of training at the UCLA campus in Los Angeles, Mourinho explained he was delighted to be working more closely with some familiar faces.

“It’s good for them [the coaches],” said Jose, of the pre-season period. “I knew them all, for different reasons, in different circumstances. Rapetti was my assistant at Inter Milan for two seasons [2009-2011], so we were together and know each other well. But then for the last seven or eight years, when I went to Madrid, Chelsea and United, he went to Empoli and Sampdoria.

“Michael, of course, I know very well and he knows me very well, but he was a player and now it’s the first steps for him, in this period, to grow up and feel more comfortable in a new role.

“And Kieran, I know him from the club and I know he’s got potential, which is why I decided to bring him up. For him, it’s also good that half of the tour squad are his boys [from last season’s Under-18 team], for his confidence, and when he starts to work with the whole squad, he’s more adapted.“