Sánchez's missed drug test 'understandable', says Mourinho | OneFootball

Manchester United boss José Mourinho insists nobody was to blame for Alexis Sánchez’s missed drugs test last week.

Sánchez was pre-occupied with finalising his transfer from Arsenal to Manchester United on Monday and failed to inform drugs testers of his whereabouts.

UK Anti-Doping officers turned up at Arsenal’s Colney training ground to test the Chilean, only to find he wasn’t there – an oversight Arsène Wenger has admitted the Gunners should take full responsibility for.

Manchester City were hit with a £35,000 fine for failing to notify the doping authorities of their players’ whereabouts last season, but speaking after Friday night’s 4-0 FA Cup victory over Yeovil Town, Mourinho insisted Sánchez’s missed test was an honest mistake for which nobody should be punished.

“I think Arsenal were very honest in the way they approached the situation,” the Portuguese told a news conference.

“We all know we must tell the whereabouts, our players where they are 24 hours a day.

“Nobody knew where he was going to be, it was just a period of his transfer.

“So I think it’s easily understandable, no one’s mistake and just a consequence of the moment.”

Sánchez notched up two assists in an impressive debut performance at Huish Park and after United came under criticism last week for the hefty salary they are reportedly paying the 29-year-old, Mourinho was in a bullish mood.

“He was cheap wasn’t he? A free transfer, that’s good,” he joked.

“For that price it’s fantastic.

“I think everybody thinks the same in this country. Everybody has to agree he’s a fantastic player and it’s a plus.

“We have a group of attacking players; Lingard, Lukaku on the bench, Zlatan, Martial at home.

“We have good quality in the group.”