Roma manager José Mourinho has weighed in on the play of Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, whom he described as "no longer a kid" and said he was "doing well."
According to a report from Roma Press, Mourinho talked to the media ahead of Roma's big match-up at the Olimpico against Milan on Sunday, October 1, in which the Giallorossi lost 1:2.
“The loyal ones are all those who are in the squad. Unfortunately I can only start 11 and 12 on the bench are many. But that’s fine, I can’t call upon them all,” the Special One said.
“I understand what you are saying but Mkhitaryan is doing well. Mkhitaryan is no longer a kid, he played against Napoli and I took him out against Cagliari. I needed depth with El Shaarawy whom I like very much.”
“I won’t tell you if he will play tomorrow. Fuzato for me he is a very loyal player and he has not played even a minute. If he will have to play someday it’s not a problem. Loyal yes, important to us, yes.”
Mkhitaryan spent 18 months under Mourinho at United between 2016 and 2018 before leaving for Arsenal in a swap deal for Alexis Sanchez after falling out of favour with the Portuguese boss. After struggling at Arsenal, the Armenian moved to Serie A with Roma where he has spent the last season-and-a-half and has now been joined by Mourinho after he was sacked by Tottenham in April.
