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Bastian Schweinsteiger can stay at Man Utd, says Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho has left the door open for Bastian Schweinsteiger to stay at Manchester United.
The former Germany captain is expected to leave Old Trafford next month, with Chicago Fire among a number of MLS clubs eager to sign him, but Mourinho has raised the prospect of the player remaining at the club.
United had written off Schweinsteiger as an asset in the club’s latest accounts and the midfielder – who he opted against leaving in the summer – was frozen out by Mourinho and banished to the reserves until he returned to first team training at the end of October.
But the 32-year-old, who has 18 months left on his existing contract, made his first appearance under Mourinho as an 86th minute substitute in Wednesday’s 4-1 EFL Cup win over West Ham United, having been an unused substitute against Slaven Bilic’s side in the Premier League three days earlier.
And Mourinho has suggested it may not be the end of the road for Schweinsteiger at Old Trafford.
“Everybody was happy [when he came on against West Ham] because when he was not training with the team he did it in a professional way,” Mourinho said. “When he was training with the team he struggled a bit at first but managed to do it without injuries and the need to stop so he was working continually for a month so I thought it’d help for him to play a bit.
“He’s another one who can help us. During the season you have injuries and suspensions. [Paul] Pogba and [Marouane] Fellaini] were both suspended in that match against West Ham and he [Schweinsteiger] was ready.
“Of course it was 3-1 and he came on for 10 mins but if needed him before he was ready. His future is about this, he’s another in the squad. Of course he can [stay].
“When you have a contract with the club you are the powerful one. You are the one that can decide your future. So in the summer we tried to make something for Bastian to happen to get a different future but he was the powerful one, he decided to stay in difficult circumstances and worked for that.
“He deserved that little happiness for that last match. In January again he will be the powerful one but probably with better feelings than before because he’s working with the team, he understands our dynamic and philosophy, you can see the happiness he showed from the other day. He is so happy and proud with his efforts. I like players with determination.”
Mourinho also claimed that Anthony Martial has upped his work rate and reaped the rewards of that with two goals against West Ham after a difficult start to the season for the France forward.
“He’s working harder than before to be honest,” Mourinho said. “And this match when he scored it helps happiness and confidence levels to be back. As an attacking player you can play very, very well but if you don’t score the happiness isn’t there.”
Mourinho said Luke Shaw, who was substituted with a tight hamstring at half-time on Wednesday, is a doubt for Sunday’s visit to Everton.