José Mourinho has questioned the Premier League’s fixture policy during the festive period, with Manchester United having to play three games in two days’ fewer than the leaders Chelsea.
United host Sunderland on Boxing Day, Middlesbrough on New Year’s Eve and travel to West Ham on 2 January. Chelsea host Bournemouth and Stoke City on the first two corresponding days but then wait until 4 January for the short trip to Tottenham Hotspur.
Mourinho said: “The busy period is for some clubs not for everyone because you analyse there is no congestion for them. The fixtures are chosen to give some rest for some and create problems for others but we are used to it because we are in the Europa League, which creates more difficulties, we know that, so it is just more of the same.”
Liverpool, who are second and like Chelsea have no European competition, play their three games over seven days. Jürgen Klopp’s side host Stoke City on 27 December, Manchester City on New Year’s Eve, then go to Sunderland on 2 January.
Mourinho also confirmed Morgan Schneiderlin has asked to leave, after West Bromwich Albion’s Tony Pulis stated he has made a bid. “Yeah, he has. He’s a great professional,” Mourinho said. “Fantastic boy, very honest, very open and he opened his heart a couple of times and my answer is simple: if he’s playing regular with me I have the right to say no way, if he’s not playing regular I have no right to tell a player that wants to be happy you’re going nowhere.
“If the offer is right and our board thinks the offer is a good offer in relation to a very good player like Morgan I would not stop him going.”
United paid £24m to Southampton for the midfielder and West Brom have offered around £13m up front.
Only Luke Shaw remains on United’s injured list, and he should be fit again soon. “He’s not far away,” Mourinho said. “Central defender position we have now all of them: Smalling is back, Bailly is back, Blind is fine, Rojo fine, a position where it’s important to have stability in options. We were in a difficult position a couple of months ago but now we are safe. We know Bailly is going to the African Cup in January. For the next three matches we know what we have.”
Mourinho added that he was confident Zlatan Ibrahimovic can continue his stellar form. “There’s no problem for me. I’m really happy for him – maybe some people could think top scorer but not any more [at] 35 years old, not any more because the Premier League is not La Liga. Thirty-five for him is the same as 25, La Liga is the same as the Premier League. He scores goals, plays well. I’m really happy for him because he will end career on his high, not in America or China – he’s ending his career at the top. His record is good, he can improve. With no penalties that is amazing too. Normally other guys that are top scorers have a lot of penalties. He had one penalty in 17 matches.”