Jose Mourinho has criticised Henrikh Mkhitaryan for disappearing during Manchester United games and has demanded the Armenian playmaker to step his game up.
Having made an impressive start to the 2017/18 campaign with 5 assists and 1 goal in his first 4 appearances for the club in September.
Since then his form has dipped remarkably and has missed United’s previous two matchday squads against United’s 4-1 victory over Newcastle United and the 1-0 away lose against Basel.
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In a recent meeting with the press, he told the reporters that the 28 year old will make a comeback against United’s home game against Brighton and Hove Albion but has warned the attacking midfielder that his sharp dip in form hasn’t gone unnoticed and urged him to match his high standards.
“I was not happy with his last performances,” Mourinho said.”I’m not speaking about one or two, I’m speaking about three, four or five.”
“He started the season very well and after that step by step he was disappearing. His performance level in terms of goal scoring and assists, high pressing, recovering the ball high up the pitch, bringing the team with him as No.10, were decreasing step by step. That was enough[to drop him] because the others worked to have a chance.”
A man well known for his man-management, Mourinho has always used criticism as a way to motivate his players to step up their performing standards.
Anthony Martial was urged not to “waste” his talent by the Portugese earlier this year, and Luke Shaw was criticised last year for his work rate last year. With Mourinho recently claiming that he is very happy with Martial’s excellent form this season, he will be hoping for the same effect on the Armenian as well.
