Mourinho: Difficult for Schweinsteiger to get playing time
Manchester - Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho indicated to out-of-favour midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger on Friday that there will be no place for him at Old Trafford this season.
The Germany international, who has two years to run on a reported £190,000-a-week contract, has been frozen out by United's new manager.
Schweinsteiger, 32, has declared he will not join another European club, and Mourinho suggested that if he stays, he may not even play in the Europa League or the League Cup.
Related: Neuer saddened by Schweinsteiger's situation at United
"I think it's very difficult to happen," the Portuguese manager said. "I'm not saying it's impossible. I'm saying it's very difficult.
"I have Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera, Morgan Schneiderlin, Marouane Fellaini, and Michael Carrick. That's five players for two positions. It's difficult that a chance will arise."
Mourinho admitted he is surprised Schweinsteiger is willing to see out his deal.
"I cannot answer for him," he said. "It's his life. It's his career. He has a contract with Manchester United and has decided to stay. That's not a problem for us.
"Football is about decisions. I've done that throughout my career. Not just me, everyone does. Some players react in a different way.
"Bastian is not speaking a lot, apart from the one statement he has made. He is free to do that in an objective and polite way like he did."
Mourinho hinted that even the players in the club's academy have more chance of getting a game than Schweinsteiger this season.