Jose Mourinho has plans for Tahith Chong after teenager impresses on Manchester United debut

Sport360 staff 17:51 20/07/2018
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  • Tahith Chong is seen as an exciting talent at United.

    Jose Mourinho doesn’t believe Tahith Chong belongs in the Manchester United first team yet, but has plans for the teenager to train more with the senior side in the hope of “increasing his evolution”.

    Mourinho feels Chong, 18, is good enough “technically and tactically” to play for United but is not yet there physically as he heaped praise on the Dutch winger following his involvement in the equaliser as the Red Devils came from behind to draw 1-1 with Club America in Phoenix in their opening pre-season game on Thursday.

    The Portuguese is without a host of his World Cup players in the United States as Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini, Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, Victor Lindelof and Ashley Young enjoy a break after their extended exploits in Russia, with David De Gea, Nemanja Matic, new signing Fred and Alexis Sanchez set to join the squad in the next few days.

    “I have plans to make him train the most possible times with us, because that increases his evolution,” Mourinho said of Chong.

    “But he has to play where he belongs, he has to play in the academy and develop physically, because physically is where he’s not ready.

    “Technically, he’s very good, tactically he understands the game and he understands his position, but by the physical point of view, when the game gets into contact situations, he’s in trouble, he’s fragile, he’s still a kid.

    “But the talent is there, the personality is there, the passion to play, the humility to learn, so this is a fantastic experience for him. It depends on some cup matches. He’s one of the good kids we have, but it’s not for today but for the tomorrow – he’s a good kid.”

    United start their Premier League campaign against Leicester on August 10.

    Chong joined the Premier League side from Feyenoord in 2016 and has been part of the Under-18 side since.

    Jose Mourinho was impressed by Dutch teenager Tahith Chong.

    Jose Mourinho was impressed by Dutch teenager Tahith Chong.

    He recently overcame a cruciate ligament injury and is continuing to impress. He replaced Anthony Martial after an hour in front of a sparse crowd of 37,660 that was markedly below the University of Phoenix Stadium’s 63,400 capacity.

    Chong’s debut for the first-team was followed by Mason Greenwood – two years his junior – when he came on for the impressive Luke Shaw with 14 minutes remaining.

    Chong played his part in Juan Mata’s equaliser 12 minutes from time when he fired in a cross which Ander Herrera headed against the right post and Mata scrambled home.

    Although Mourinho sees physical limitations in the youngster, who was young player of the year at United last season, the manager praised him for his confidence.

    Mourinho added: “He was good. He came with the intention to show, and in a moment where we have no strikers on the pitch, Martial was the only one and then he left, so we needed people to create, have some initiative, which he did.

    “The action for the cross for the goal is a beautiful action. He was enthusiastic, he was confident to play.

    “Of course physically he has his limitations, and when he has one more touch and he allows that body contact of course he loses it, but when he makes the ball move and attacks people one against one, he has quality.”

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