Jose Mourinho admits he is worried by how Manchester United’s pre-season preparations are shaping up, with around three weeks until the start of the new campaign.
The Red Devils are currently without 11 first-team stars on their tour of America and they also have injury concerns.
All of the United players that featured in the World Cup have not yet joined up with the squad, including England quartet Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Phil Jones, with some linking up during the tour.
Spain goalkeeper David de Gea, midfielder Nemanja Matic and summer signing Fred are expected to join their team-mates next week.
Mourinho has also been without Alexis Sanchez, with the former Barcelona and Arsenal man not allowed into the USA yet after being unable to get a visa.
The United boss admits it is far from ideal ahead of their opening Premier League fixture against Leicester City at Old Trafford on August 10.
The manager has already stated he doesn’t intend to play any of his World Cup players in the league opener.
Mourinho said: “Pre-season is very bad, I have to say that. I’m not going to say somebody is coming or nobody is coming. I really don’t know.”
Trying to be upbeat, he added: “It’s positive for the young boys that have the fantastic opportunity to train with us and know what it is to be a United player, the chance to play against fantastic players.”
Mourinho also said full-back Diogo Dalot, signed from Porto this summer, will be unavailable for the start of the season, with the Portugal Under-21 international not ready to play until September due to injury.
Mourinho said: “Dalot is injured. We knew that but we didn’t want to lose him because of that. He is recovering really well.
“We think he can start training with the team when we go back to England. He is not going to be ready for the start of the season but we think he’ll be ready for September.”
