Mourinho Has Decisions To Make Before Naming His First United Team

New Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has decision to make before naming his first United team to play Bournemouth in about a month. He has games against Wigan, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City, Galatasaray, Everton and Leicester to help him decide who should get in and who should be left out.

Some members of Mourinho’s squad are almost sure to start. But one of the positions still up for grabs is at right-back.

Here are some of the contenders

Matteo Darmian

The Italian was signed from Torino last summer to be Louis van Gaal’s first-choice right-back after the Dutchman decided Rafael wasn’t up to it.

He started well, but a series of injuries and a dip in form saw him in and out of the team. By the end of the season he had lost his place to a midfielder, Antonio Valencia.

He became a target for Van Gaal because of his versatility – able to play as a full-back or wing-back on either side and at centre-back.

Mourinho, however, has already said he wants specialists. It should count in Darmian’s favour that he considers right-back his most natural position.

Matteo Darmian

The Italian was signed from Torino last summer to be Louis van Gaal’s first-choice right-back after the Dutchman decided Rafael wasn’t up to it.

He started well, but a series of injuries and a dip in form saw him in and out of the team. By the end of the season he had lost his place to a midfielder, Antonio Valencia.

He became a target for Van Gaal because of his versatility – able to play as a full-back or wing-back on either side and at centre-back.

Mourinho, however, has already said he wants specialists. It should count in Darmian’s favour that he considers right-back his most natural position.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah

Another option is Timothy Fosu-Mensah. He had one of his best games last season as a right-back in the FA Cup quarter-final replay with West Ham.

Strong, quick and good in the air, he has similar qualities to Ivanovic. But Mourinho would still be putting a lot of trust in a teenager with only 10 senior games under his belt if he made the Dutchman first choice next season.

Antonio Valencia

The Ecuadorian ended last season as Van Gaal’s right-back but it’s unlikely he will get the nod from Mourinho. The Portuguese coach primarily wants his defenders to defend and Valencia is a winger.