Jan 26 2018
- James Benge
The head coach of the Armenian national team has blamed Jose Mourinho for Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s struggles at Manchester United, where he claims too much was asked of the playmaker on defence.
Mkhitaryan completed his move to Arsenal on Monday as part of the deal that took Alexis Sanchez to United, ending a frustrating 18 month spell in Manchester for the 29-year-old.
The Armenian international arrived at Old Trafford fresh from winning the Bundesliga Player of the Season award with Borussia Dortmund but struggled to make the grade under Mourinho, scoring 13 goals and providing 11 assists in 63 games for United.
Arsene Wenger is convinced he is the one to get the best out of Mkhitaryan, a view echoed by Armenia boss Artur Petrosyan.
“We are very happy with this transfer from Manchester United,” he said. “His style of play will be better suited at Arsenal.
“It is my impression that I think Henrikh had a problem with the coach [Mourinho] and, at Arsenal, it will be another thing and not the same situation.
“There will not be so much pressure on him defensively.”
Petrosyan added: “I think Wenger is better for Henrikh.
He is always one of the best players in the Premier league but, under this manager he will become even stronger.”
The 46-year-old added that Arsenal play “better football” than United and that he was “not happy” at the limited opportunities Mourinho had given Mkhitaryan in recent months.