Was that in your mind when you looked at what it would take to sign Harry Kane or other strikers this summer?
I don’t talk about players in other clubs. I have to respect the club and respect the player. I have huge respect for Kane because he is a great striker, one of the best ever. Maybe he can even be the best striker ever in the Premier League.
You’ve mentioned Marcus Rashford needs to have the “right attitude” in order to keep scoring goals. What did you mean by that?
It’s a general statement. All players have to live the right life. Professional football is tough, so in general our players can’t match the sensational life and play top football. Top football is tough nowadays: you’re looking at 60 games a year in club football, plus 10 international games. It means that every third or fourth day, you have to match the highest physical levels. When you’re not living the right life, you get killed.
What is important? Sleep, recovery, nutrition — these are three key areas and when you don’t do this right, you have a problem. You can’t perform. So when you ask me about Rashford, the same counts for Varane and every player. You will not reach the levels when you don’t do the things right.
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Do you think Sancho has overcome the problems that led to him taking some time out last season?
In this moment he is in a very good vibe. He decides how he is, how his mood and vibe is. He has a lot of energy — we all saw it from the moment he came back. He wants to enjoy football and be successful.
He looks a very different player to the one we saw at Borussia Dortmund in terms of taking players on and the skills he’s displaying. Is it a confidence issue, or is it just because he’s playing at a higher level now?
That’s exactly it. It’s the development. The Bundesliga is perfect preparation for the Premier League. [The Premier League] is tougher. I think your vision is a little bit grey. I saw many games at Dortmund, and Sancho is not such a different player in Dortmund as he is here. But also for him, he has to get more consistency in his performances, and he has to do it at a higher level.
Shaping the United squad
When it comes to transfers, how much influence do you have on departures?
I’m totally involved, but you have seen all the investments other clubs are making, and you can’t compete in the Premier League for the top four when you don’t invest in your squad. You see the market, but I can do nothing for it or anyone else at United. It’s a choice; if you want to compete, you have to invest.
You’ve signed goalkeeper Andre Onana following the summer exit of David de Gea. How good is your new No.1, particularly with the ball at his feet?
I think he proved it over last season, but now he’s coming to a new club and he has to prove it here. He has the potential and the skills in that aspect to improve our game and that will definitely help our team.
