Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho confident Victor Lindelof will impress in Basel debut
With Eric Bailly and Phil Jones both suspended, big-money Swede is set to play first game
JOSE MOURINHO is confident that Victor Lindelof will impress in his competitive Manchester United debut against Basel.
The 23-year-old has not played a single minute this season after the Portuguese boss spent £31million on him from Benfica in the summer.
The Swede played in Manchester United's European Super Cup defeat against Real Madrid in August, but had a shocker and has been out of the team since.
With Phil Jones and Eric Bailly both suspended for the first two Champions League group games, Lindelof and Chris Smalling will come into the team.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the game, Mourinho didn't agree that it was a chance for the pair to impress - as he already knows their qualities.
The Special One said: "It is not an opportunity for them, it’s just normal. I don’t think Jones and Bailly are better than them, they are the same level.
"Probably, even if Jones and Bailly were not suspended, I would probably play Smalling and Lindelof tomorrow.
"Playing one match a week [so far] there were not reasons to make changes.
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"For me, they are exactly the same [level] as Jones and Bailly."
Mourinho also believes that Lindelof, who has Champions League and title-winning experience from his days at Benfica, will be able to adapt better to the European clash than the sharp learning curve of the Premier League.
"I think it’s easier for [Lindelof] to play in the Champions League," added Mourinho.
"It’s more comparable to the Portuguese style of football.
"[There are] more differences in the Premier League, so no need to adapt to the Champions League. But he needs to adapt to the Premier League."
And Mourinho offered a warning to Eric Bailly and Phil Jones that they cold lose their place if they don't keep performing.
"Lindelof is an intelligent kid, very bright, very calm.
"Tomorrow I am more than confident. He is a very good player with very good potential.
"For Bailly and Jones there are reasons to be worried because he’s a very good player."
Smalling is also yet to play a competitive minute of football this season.
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