Manchester United

Jose Mourinho: 'Henrikh Mkhitaryan can't handle the pressure'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 22 November 2016

Mourinho: 'Mkhitaryan can't handle the pressure'

Jose Mourinho says that playing Henrikh Mkhitaryan against Arsenal was never an option, and he will instead slowly integrate the midfielder back into action.

Jose Mourinho has revealed that he left Henrikh Mkhitaryan out of Manchester United's squad to face Arsenal last weekend because the game was 'too pressurised' for the outcast midfielder.

Mkhitaryan has endured a torrid time since making the switch from Borussia Dortmund to Old Trafford in the summer, being restricted to just five appearances in all competitions.

The Armenia international has not featured at all in the Premier League since being hauled off midway through the Red Devils' derby defeat to Manchester City in early September, with his misery compounded when left out of United's latest matchday squad despite being fit enough to feature.

Explaining his decision to once again overlook the 27-year-old, Mourinho is quoted by The Telegraph as saying: "I told him Arsenal was not the game for you.

"I don't think he needs 10 or 20 minutes from the bench. He needs less pressure and better conditions for him to express his qualities. I think he needs a good game and he needs to either start or, if not, to come on for the second half."

Mkhitaryan scored 23 goals for Dortmund and registered a further 32 assists last season, making him the most creative player in European football's top-five divisions.