José Mourinho has emphasised it will be “very difficult” for Bastian Schweinsteiger to play for Manchester United this season – and had a dig back at Karl-Heinz Rummenigge following the Bayern Munich chairman’s criticism of how he has handled the player.
Schweinsteiger has been frozen out at United, with Mourinho making it clear he is not part of his plans. Earlier this week the 32-year-old former Germany midfielder said he would not be joining another club in Europe and added of his employers: “I will be ready, if the team needs me.”
When asked on Friday if there was any chance Schweinsteiger could play for United at all this season, Mourinho said: “I think it’s very difficult to happen. I’m not saying it’s impossible. I’m saying it’s very difficult.
“We have a decision completely made about Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera, Morgan Schneiderlin, Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick. We have five players for two positions. It’s very difficult that an opportunity will arrive.”
After reports emerged of the former Bayern man Schweinsteiger, a World Cup winner with Germany, being made to train with United’s reserves, Rummenigge was quoted earlier this month as saying he could “hardly believe” such treatment, labelling it “a lack of respect for a worthy player”.
Mourinho said on Friday: “I thought after I read some quotes from people at Bayern Munich they would run to Manchester to bring him [Schweinsteiger] back, but no, that did not happen. I am quite surprised Mr Rummenigge is not here now to take him back.”
Schweinsteiger has two years left on his United contract, and in terms of the prospect of him staying despite not playing, Mourinho said: “I cannot answer for him. It’s his life. It’s his career. He has a contract with Man United and has the right to make that decision to stay.
“That’s not a problem for us. Football is made of decisions. I did that all my career. Not just me, everyone does. Some players react in a different way and have other kind of decisions. Bastian is not speaking a lot. He gave this last statement, which he is completely free to do in an objective and polite way like he did. There are no problems at all.”
Mourinho was speaking before Saturday’s trip to Hull, where United will be looking to make it three wins out of three. They are coming up against a promoted side who have caused a major surprise by also taking maximum points from their first two games – including against the champions Leicester – despite having a threadbare squad and no permanent manager.
The former United assistant manager Mike Phelan is the man in charge, and Mourinho feels he deserves to be given the job full-time. “I hope he gets the job despite losing the match,” Mourinho said. “I think it’s not intelligent to make a decision about a manager because he wins or loses a match.
“I think the reality is he’s one of the most successful assistant managers in the country, in the Premier League. Now he has this job and he has managed to motivate and organise the people. Are they defensive? Yes. But that’s the way they have found to get points. I think he deserves the job.”