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Manchester United's Daley Blind wants to fight for his future

Image: Daley Blind wants to stay at Manchester United

Manchester United defender Daley Blind insists he is determined to stay and fight for his place at Old Trafford.

New manager Jose Mourinho is already planning his overhaul of United's squad as he attempts to build a team capable of winning the Premier League.

Sky Sports News HQ understands Blind and Juan Mata are set to be high-profile departures from the club, with Mourinho happy to approve the sale of both players this summer should United receive acceptable bids.

Blind, Mata set for Utd exit
Blind, Mata set for Utd exit

Daley Blind and Juan Mata set for Manchester United exit this summer

But Blind insists he wants to work with Mourinho and is keen to extend his stay in the Premier League.

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Blind told Dutch media outlet NOS: "I am looking forward to working with Mourinho. We will have to wait and see whether anything changes for me.

"I will just give my all and work hard. Mourinho is a manager who has achieved a lot and I am keen to work with him."

After playing primarily in midfield during his first season at United, Blind operated almost exclusively at centre-half alongside Chris Smalling last season.

Daley Blind formed a successful defensive partnership with Chris Smalling last season
Image: Blind formed a successful partnership with Chris Smalling last season

However his lack of size - he is 5ft 11 - may prevent him from reprising the role under Mourinho, with the Portuguese well known for his preference for tall players through the spine of his teams.

"If you don't have five tall players," he said during his time in charge of Chelsea, "you are dead at set pieces."

Blind recognises he is not as big as most centre-halves but pointed to United's excellent defensive record last season - they conceded a league-lowest 35 goals along with Tottenham - as evidence of his ability to perform in the role.

"I might not be as big as Pepe [who Mourinho coached at Real Madrid] but I think I have shown in the Premier League that I can hold my own defensively," Blind said.

"We conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League and I think we got the most clean sheets. That's something to be proud of. I played nearly every game and that is a good feeling.

"You might be looking for a certain statement, but I will just give my all under Mourinho."

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