Mourinho:We Regretted Buying Sanchez

Jose Mourinho admits he has not got the best out of Alexis Sanchez
since his January transfer because the former Arsenal forward moved
to Manchester United at the "wrong" time.
Sanchez was signed in a swap deal that reportedly made him the
Premier League's best-paid player but the Chile international has
scored just one goal in eight United appearances, well below his career
strike rate.
Mourinho, whose team take on Liverpool at Old Trafford on Saturday,
believes it will be next season before the 29-year-old shows his best
form.
"What is wrong is that he came at the worst moment of the season, in
the winter market," said the Manchester United boss. "That's why I
don't like the winter market very much.
"I think this was a chance that we didn't want to lose and we made.
But we don't believe a lot in the winter market.
"And for sure next season will be better for him. But of course he is
learning how to play with us and we are learning how to get the best
out of him."
Pundits have suggested integrating Sanchez in mid-season has had an
adverse effect on the form of teammates, in particular midfielder Paul
Pogba.




But despite the obvious teething problems, Mourinho does not see
Sanchez as a weakness in the United team.
"No. That's something that we can develop and we're going to develop
with time, with experience and living these experiences together," said
the manager.
"I don't consider that a weakness, I consider that a huge potential to
be developed.
"He's fit and if he is trying too hard, that's great. He is not afraid to
take responsibilities, not afraid to try things."
Sanchez's eight appearances have included two defeats, at Tottenham
and Newcastle, which all but ended United's lingering hopes of
challenging Manchester City for the Premier League title.




But despite an underwhelming start to Sanchez's United career,
Mourinho said the player remains happy.
"He's fine," said the United boss. "He's happy that the team is getting
results -- lately he was unhappy when we lost matches with him but
he's a guy with great maturity and attitude and we couldn't be
happier."
United's eagerly awaited league encounter with rivals Liverpool comes
with both clubs chasing second spot behind champions-elect City.
And, at the start of a week in which Mourinho is also looking to
progress in the Champions League and FA Cup, the United manager
believes he and opposite number Jurgen Klopp are at similar stages in
terms of developing their clubs.
"They have qualities and they have weaknesses," he said. "We have
qualities, and we have weaknesses.




"And one of my good qualities as coach was always to know my
team's weaknesses very well and sometimes I tried to hide them and
sometimes I have to try to compensate them with other things.
"But we are very similar in terms of points in the Premier League.
Liverpool have already qualified for the (Champions League) quarter-
final and we still have 90 minutes or two hours of a big fight to try to
be there."