Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho admits hes been punishing Victor Lindelof but says he expects the Swede to improve this season.
The 24-year-old struggled during his debut campaign at Old Trafford and made just 17 Premier League appearances following a £30million move from Benfica.
Mourinho was determined to sign an experienced centre-back but the clubs board overruled his interest in Toby Alderweireld and Jerome Boateng.
Lindelof had an impressive World Cup campaign for Sweden and Mourinho has revealed hes been punishing the Swede by playing him out of position.
We have five central defenders, all of them have different qualities and we have to read the situation match by match, but of course Victor is the youngest one so has more space to develop and improve, said Mourinho.
Technically Victor is good. I am punishing him a little bit because I play him on the left side. He is better on the right side but so are the others and my option is to put him on the left because technically he is the best so he is the one that can compensate the fact its not his real position
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I expect him to feel more comfortable in the Premier League. If you remember, he had good matches last season in the Champions League, in Lisbon, in Moscow. It looked like he was more ready for continental football. But hes a young guy and has conditions to improve. I believe in Victor.
More: Manchester United FC
United beat Leicester City on the opening weekend and take on Brighton on Sunday on the south coast.
Alexis Sanchez was not in the travelling squad that departed Manchester on Saturday afternoon and is not expected to feature against the Seagulls.
MORE: Tyson Fury promises to knock Deontay Wilder the f**k out after confirming Las Vegas bout
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Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho admits hes been punishing Victor Lindelof but says he expects the Swede to improve this season.
The 24-year-old struggled during his debut campaign at Old Trafford and made just 17 Premier League appearances following a £30million move from Benfica.
Mourinho was determined to sign an experienced centre-back but the clubs board overruled his interest in Toby Alderweireld and Jerome Boateng.
Lindelof had an impressive World Cup campaign for Sweden and Mourinho has revealed hes been punishing the Swede by playing him out of position.
We have five central defenders, all of them have different qualities and we have to read the situation match by match, but of course Victor is the youngest one so has more space to develop and improve, said Mourinho.
Technically Victor is good. I am punishing him a little bit because I play him on the left side. He is better on the right side but so are the others and my option is to put him on the left because technically he is the best so he is the one that can compensate the fact its not his real position
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I expect him to feel more comfortable in the Premier League. If you remember, he had good matches last season in the Champions League, in Lisbon, in Moscow. It looked like he was more ready for continental football. But hes a young guy and has conditions to improve. I believe in Victor.
More: Manchester United FC
United beat Leicester City on the opening weekend and take on Brighton on Sunday on the south coast.
Alexis Sanchez was not in the travelling squad that departed Manchester on Saturday afternoon and is not expected to feature against the Seagulls.
MORE: Tyson Fury promises to knock Deontay Wilder the f**k out after confirming Las Vegas bout
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