Jose Mourinho has described the Africa Cup of Nations date change as ‘perfect’ for Manchester United.
United were deprived of centre-back Eric Bailly for a month at the start of the calendar year as he missed eight games due to his international commitments with the Ivory Coast in Gabon.
AFCON is usually held in January and February but the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee confirmed earlier this week in Rabat Morocco it would move the tournament to June and July from 2019 after the delegates in the just ended symposium passed the motion.
Bailly, 23, is the only African representative in the United squad but is set to be available throughout the 2018-19 season thanks to the CAF’s switch.
“I have to read the changes and understand the changes,” Mourinho said. When an African journalist explained the switch, Mourinho replied: “If that’s the change then it’s perfect for us.
“Obviously, because it’s hard in the middle of the season to lose players like we do and with so many African players playing in the best competitions in Europe it’s not good for the clubs.
“It’s not good for the competitions, it’s not good for the players, so if you can do that and you manage to do the Africa Cup of Nations in the European break it’s a fantastic chance
