Former United star Peter Coyne has expressed his excitement at going to watch the team play under new manager Jose Mourinho.
A lifelong United fan who still attends games at Old Trafford, Peter lived his dream when he made two appearances for the first team in the 1975/76 season, scoring once in a 2-1 defeat to Leicester City: “I can’t wait to go to the games now, a bit like how it was a few years ago. I always look forward to going but we’ve got confidence now, something that hasn’t really been there over the last couple of years.
“You can sense that something might happen this season, we’re not getting carried away but it’s nice to go to the match and you can’t wait to see them play.”
With it still being early days of Jose Mourinho’s reign at the club, Peter is pleased with the depth in the squad and expects more changes: “I think the manager has to look at every player, unless he’s already made his mind up about some. We’ve got that big a squad now like what we used to have with Fergie doubling up on each position. I don’t think anyone is guaranteed a place which is fantastic, there’s competition for places everywhere and hopefully that will squeeze a little bit more out of them.
“Mourinho has a presence about him, he’s a winner. We all know what he can do but it’s early days. He’s ruthless and I think there will quite a lot of changes but I don’t think you get many managers who are willing to do that straight away, it’s usually a gradual thing.
“The manager is famous for playing a fast counter-attacking game so I don’t think Schweinsteiger will fit into his plans, I loved him but that’s just the way it is. Januzaj has gone out on loan, two years later and he’s no nearer to getting in the first team, yet he’s got everything to be a top footballer.
“In his last loan spell he didn’t get a game at Dortmund and he needs to play every week. I would have thought he’ll do that at Sunderland because David Moyes seems to like him. If he starts to take off there and we get him back he’ll be another great addition so let’s see what happens.”
Peter is pleased with the business United have done in the transfer market this summer and runs the rule over the new signings: “Zlatan has an arrogance about him which is what a United centre forward needs playing in front of 75,000 people every week. He’s not scared to make a mistake, he’ll have the ball anywhere on the pitch and bring people into play. I think the crowd are going to love him, I really do.
“So far, Bailly looks quality. He’s fast, he’s big, strong and can only get better with experience. I think he’s got a nasty side to him as well which I think all defenders need. I’m glad Pogba has come to us and not to someone like City because I’d much rather have him in my team. Mourinho has just got to find the right position for him, I’d like to see him getting in the box like Roy Keane used to do because I think he’s got a goal in him.
“I don’t know much about Mkhitaryan but I do know his stats and they’re fantastic. Everyone tells me he’s rapid but the jury’s out for me at the moment and I’m looking forward to seeing him play.”
