Even though Henrikh Mkhitaryan only played a few minutes in Manchester United’s game against Leicester City F.C. on Aug. 7, many fans still expect him to start in the team’s first Premier League game against Bournemouth on Aug. 14. While on the German team Borussia Dortmund Mkhitaryan was a force to be reckoned with—and many believe that if he plays with the same skill and efficiency, he will become a starter on Manchester United as well.
Mkhitaryan leads Europe in assists in all competitions; even top international players such as Neymar and Mesut Ozil do not have as many assists on goals as him.
This is impressive in all counts. It means that he is in competition with two players, who are considered some of the best soccer players in the world. This also means that he has the potential to be an even bigger star than he already is.
Manchester United’s manager Jose Mourinho spoke very highly about Mkhitaryan’s potential and skill. “Mkhitaryan is a top-class player and currently at the best stage for a footballer,” Mourinho said at the time of the Armenian star’s signing. Mourinho seems to be very enthusiastic about Mkhitaryan and wants to help him grow as a player.
Read also
The star of this team right now, though, is Zlatan Ibrahimovic. In his debut game, he scored a bicycle kick in the third minute, and in the FA Community Shield Cup, he scored a header to win the game against Leicester City. He was transferred earlier this summer from Paris Saint-Germain F.C (PSG). On PSG, he carried the team playing a star, leadership role.
Manchester United also recently signed center-midfielder Paul Pogba. The transfer made Pogba the highest paid soccer player of all time. The transaction was worth €105 million (about $118 million USD). Only four years ago, Manchester United sold Pogba to Juventus for about an €800,000 (about $894,000 USD) transaction fee.
Juan Mata has been at Manchester United for three years, but because of the arrival of Mkhitaryan, may not have a secured spot on the starting lineup. He was even seen arguing with the team manager after being substituted off the field for Mkhitaryan, which can hint to a possible exit from the team altogether.
Will the addition of so many superstars result in a positive outcome for the team?
One thing is certain—Mourinho and Manchester United have started to build what many are calling a “superteam.” Ibrahimovic, Pogba, and Mkhitaryan were all one of the best players on their previous teams, and they all now find themselves in the same bunch.
Manchester United did not do as well as they hoped last season. Under manager Louis Van Gaal, they came in fifth place and ended up not qualifying for the Champions League. After firing Louis Van Gaal, the team hired Jose Mourinho, who believes that Manchester United can become a strong team once again. And he has started the process by beating Leicester City, last season’s 2015–16 Premier League champions.
So, does Mkhitaryan fit in this “superteam”? Mourinho and the fans of Manchester United certainly believe so.
Aram Harumi
Aram Harumi is a Senior at Brookline High School. He enjoys playing soccer, basketball, and pretty much any sport. He also likes to read and play fantasy sports.
