Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has six “chosen ones” within his squad, claims Danny Blind, who is the father of Man Utd defender Daley.
Mourinho’s Red Devils have made an incredible start to the season and have now taken their unbeaten streak to 10 games on Saturday after thrashing Crystal Palace 4-0.
Saturday’s win was their fourth 4-0 triumph in the Premier League this season, while Mourinho’s side have also shown incredible form in the Champions League and Carabao Cup.
It is quite evident that the former Real Madrid and Chelsea boss has picked his favourites in the Man Utd squad – with much of the success so far this season coming their way with a particular group of players maintaining consistency in their form.
Former Netherlands boss Blind said: “They are David De Gea, Antonio Valencia, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, who is currently injured, Romelu Lukaku and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.”
“For Mourinho, that is the frame of his side. Valencia is also his captain. Around these six chosen ones, he keeps changing the players.”
“Sometimes he makes a choice between Marcus Rashford or Anthony Martial. Sometimes it is [Daley] Blind or Ashley Young or, rarely, Matteo Darmian.”
Mourinho has shown faith in his key men this season and the Portuguese boss has reaped the rewards as new summer signings Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic has settled into the squad in brilliant fashion.
Matic provide United what they were missing in the midfield and Lukaku has anchored the attack up front with 11 goals already to his name from 10 appearances, but Blind believes Armenian playmaker Mkhitaryan is the man who has been anchoring Man Utd’s brilliant performances this season.
He added: “People talk about Lukaku, who gets a lot of goals. But you need a player who provides all the assists, who feeds the big goalscorer.”
“He [Mkhitaryan] is so important for United. He keeps the tempo in the game, he is deadly with his one touch football near the box and he always has an eye for every situation in front of goal.”
Man Utd have gone into the international break sitting joint-top of the Premier League table – but behind arch-rivals Man City only on goal difference.