Former Man United coach: Sanchez move bad for young players

Daniel Storey

Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen believes Alexis Sanchez will be a success at Old Trafford, but worries about the club’s younger players.

Sanchez has joined at the age of 29 and will expect to go straight into the first team. Marcus Rashford has only started seven league games since September, while Jesse Lingard will also know that there is extra competition for places.

Juan Mata is one player likely to lose out, but Meulensteen hopes that none of United’s young players will be forced from centre stage.

“With Sanchez in the team I think they have a very good chance of winning the Premier League,” Meulensteen told talkSPORT host Jim White.

“They increase their chances, definitely. He is a Manchester United-type player.

“He gives you energy, he gives you goals, he gives you assists and he gives you unpredictability – all the stuff the fans want to see. He gives them an extra attacking threat, for sure.

“If you invest so much money in top players, you obviously must have your best players on the pitch.

“If that’s the case for Manchester United, then some other players will have to step out.

“I don’t necessarily think that would be one player, but I think it would be a real shame because I still see an unbelievable future for players like Rashford and Lingard.

“It gives Mourinho a variety of attacking threats, with a lot of mobility, but who is going to pay the price?”