Man United academy graduate Andreas Pereira insists Jose Mourinho DOES give youngsters a chance
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Man United academy graduate Andreas Pereira insists that José Mourinho DOES give the youngsters a chance, as he credits his former manager with earning him a call-up from Brazil by improving his defensive play.
- Andreas Pereira left Man United for good in the summer to join Fulham
- The Brazilian midfielder praised José Mourinho for playing him in a deeper role.
- Pereira, who is now thriving for Fulham, said Mourinho helped him play for Brazil.
Manchester United academy graduate Andreas Pereira has debunked the theory that Jose Mourinho limits the chances of young players.
The now Fulham midfielder even attributed his call-up to the Brazil team to Mourinho, who improved his defensive capabilities and helped him ‘see the game from another perspective’.
Pereira finally left Manchester for London last summer after becoming an outcast after several years at United.
The once capped Brazil international was born in Belgium, joined United in 2011 after Sir Alex Ferguson lured him away from PSV Eindhoven.
He made his debut three years later under Louis van Gaal, but spent Mourinho’s first two seasons on loan at Granada and Valencia.
Former Man United midfielder Andreas Pereira has debunked the theory that Jose Mourinho limits the chances of young players.
Pereira spent several years at Old Trafford but eventually had to leave and is now a key player in Fulham’s push for European football.
Upon his return, Pereira started the opener of Mourinho’s final season at Old Trafford, and played five more times before the now Roma manager was sacked.
Mourinho has been accused of not giving youngsters a chance in the past, especially during his second spell at Chelsea. But Pereira told him The Guardian: ‘Although from the outside it seems that he doesn’t give opportunities to young players, I don’t agree with that.
“I got into the national team mainly thanks to him. He made me play deeper and helped me see the game from another perspective.
‘My first thought was, ‘Wow, I can’t defend myself. I have to learn.’ But he showed me some things that I had to do better. It’s Jose Mourinho. You want to learn from the best.
Pereira became more and more of an Old Trafford regular, making 56 appearances under Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer, including starting United’s memorable Champions League win over PSG in 2019.
However, when Bruno Fernandes arrived and the pandemic arrived, the dream of Pereira’s United began to fade.
“It’s always difficult when a coach leaves because you’re building a bond and he knows you’re there. Another technician arrives and everything starts again from scratch,’ added Pereira.
Pereira even claimed that Mourinho was responsible for his call-up to the Brazil national team in 2018.
‘Ole was great. He played me more in offensive roles. The following season, I played a lot. Then came Covid.
“Every time I was building something with United, something was getting in the way.”
But Pereira was not going to back down, and is now a key player in Marco Silva’s high-flying Fulham side, who are determined to fight for European football.
The Cottagers sit sixth in the Premier League and are just four points away from the Champions League places despite only being promoted last season.
