Sanchez has been a big disappointment since his January move from Arsenal, scoring only once in eight games, giving the ball away with alarming regularity, dropping too deep and cramping Paul Pogba’s style.
Mourinho concedes the Chile striker, who became the club’s highest-paid player at £350,000 a week, has yet to show his best form but believes that is a consequence of his mid-season move when Man United gazumped neighbours City for his signature.
But he insists Sanchez will be far better next season when they have worked out a tactical system that suits both player and team.
“Are we getting the best out of Sanchez? No,” he said. “He came at the worst moment of the season, in the winter market. That’s why I don’t like the winter market very much and why we don’t believe in it a lot. But it was a chance that we didn’t want to lose and we made the deal.
“Of course, he is learning how to play with us and we are learning how to get the best out of him. And for sure next season will be better for him.”
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Mourinho admits his team have weaknesses but says Sanchez, who is set to keep his place for Saturday’s ‘best of the rest’ clash against Liverpool, isn’t one of them. He says he is happy with the player’s fitness and work ethic.
“I don’t consider that a weakness – I consider that a huge potential to be developed,” he added. “That’s something that we can develop and we’re going to develop with time, with experience and living these experiences together.
“Is he trying too hard? That’s great. He’s not afraid to take responsibilities, not afraid to try to make things to happen.
“When he feels that he’s not as dangerous as he likes to be, he drops back, he tries things, tries to come to building up areas. When he makes mistakes he tries to compensate immediately with a fantastic spirit, with a great transition to try and win back the ball. We are very happy with him.”
Asked how Sanchez is handling the criticism that has followed his early matches for United, Mourinho said: “He’s fine. He’s happy that the team is getting results. He was unhappy when we lost matches with him in the side but he’s a guy with great maturity and attitude and we couldn’t be happier.”
Mourinho was criticised for ‘parking the bus’ in the two successive goalless stalemates at Anfield. But he made no apologies for the sterile nature of those games and says he was only disappointed with the 1-1 home draw with Liverpool last January.
He insists he will set out to win on Saturday despite a draw suiting United more than their rivals in the battle for second spot.
“It doesn’t matter the approach, we want to win every match,” he said. “In these three matches we had one bad result – at home – and two good results. That’s my feeling.”
Romelu Lukaku goes into the game looking to join the Premier League’s 100 goals club and with praise from Mourinho.
“I have always said that it’s not just about his goals but what he brings to the team with his spirit. He’s an important guy for me, one of the guys that I trust. I love his character.”