Saturday 10 March 2018 07:55, UK
Jose Mourinho admits he has struggled to get the best out of Alexis Sanchez since the Chile international joined Manchester United.
Sanchez has managed one goal and two assists in eight starts since joining United from Arsenal in January.
Mourinho has tried him on the left, in the middle and on the right to varying degrees of success, but the 29-year-old has yet to reproduce the form that made him one of the Premier League's most feared attackers while he was at Arsenal.
When asked if Sanchez has been at his best, Mourinho replied: "No. What is wrong is that he arrived in the worst moment of the season which is the winter market. That is why I don't like the winter market very, very much.
"This was a chance that we did not want to lose and we went for it but we do not believe a lot in the winter market.
"For sure, next season will be better for him. He is learning how to play with us and we are learning how to get the best out of him."
When asked if Sanchez was guilty of trying to force things at times since joining United, Mourinho was quick to come to his defence.
The United boss said: "That is great. He is not afraid to take responsibility. He is not afraid to try to make things happen.
"When he feels that he is not as dangerous as he would like to be, he drops back and tries to come into building-up areas.
"When he makes mistakes he tries to compensate immediately with a fantastic spirit and great transition to try to recover the ball. We are very happy."
And despite his slow start in terms of individual statistics, Mourinho insists Sanchez is content because the team have been winning.
"He is fine," Mourinho said. "He is happy that the team is getting results lately. He was unhappy when we lost matches with him but he is a guy with great maturity and great attitude and we could not be happier."
