Former Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan says manager Jose Mourinho isn’t as calm or as nice as Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, after leaving the former to join the latter on deadline day.
“Mourinho required a lot from the players. A lot, he was very hard. Arsene Wenger is friendlier, he understands, can think about players’ situations, is calmer. That’s the difference,” he said to SFR Sport.
Mkhitaryan joined United from Borussia Dortmund in 2016, and went on to make over 60 appearances in all competitions. The Armenian international struggled for consistency and manager Jose Mourinho moved him on as a result.
He joined Arsenal as Alexis Sanchez went in the other direction, and believes he left Old Trafford with only good memories with the supporters, adding: “I think I left an impression in Manchester, although I had difficulties.”
“We won three trophies in a year and a half, it’s not every club that does that. We won the Europa League final, I scored a goal. If people say that I have not had enough success it is their opinion, but I can say that I had a lot of success at the club.”
Mourinho is renowned for his high standards, micromanagement, attention to detail and discipline. Wenger is well-known for favouring a softer approach and giving more responsibility to his players. The two coaches couldn’t be further apart, but Mkhitaryan seems to prefer life under Wenger right now.
The Armenian midfielder has made three appearances for Arsenal since his January deadline day move, although he was hooked out in the second half in Saturday’s North London derby with Tottenham Hotspur.
Mkhitaryan was all but exiled from the Manchester United first-team for a short period of time, before he worked his way back into the reckoning. He’s regarded as a Premier League flop due to his struggles at Old Trafford, but is clearly determined to prove all his critics.
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