Paul Scholes has slammed Jose Mourinho’s excuse that Manchester United “need better players” after their shock Champions League exit. I think the intention and the way we started was really good and positive. The fact that he said that “this is not the end of the world” and that “there is not time to be sad” basically normalised losing and allowed the players to accept that.
Advertisement
In his post-match press conference, Mourinho insisted he accepted his side’s performance, despite registering just four shots on goal over two legs, and referred to his victories over United as manager with Porto (2004) and Real Madrid (2013).
Mourinho’s men dug deep to edge that Premier League encounter, but Matic refused to use those exertions as a way to explain Tuesday’s lacklustre display against Sevilla.
With both his decision-making on the training field and his antics in front of the microphone, Mourinho proved that he has fundamentally misjudged Manchester United as a club and his task as its manager.
He was defensive when quizzed by Spanish-speaking reporters, with one asking if it was an acceptable performance by United given the difference in finance. We have one trophy to chase and that is the FA Cup.
Suddenly the FA Cup, where United face Brighton in their quarter-final at Old Trafford on Saturday, takes on a little more significance.
I don’t have regrets. But we didn’t deserve it because we weren’t good enough. You go back to the first game, which ended 0-0, they didn’t even try to win or score a goal.
Questions will be asked as to why Mourinho switched around the team and formation from that game.
Marcus Rashford, so brilliant on the left with his two goals in the North West derby, was moved to the right flank while Alexis Sanchez, who had looked promising playing just behind Romelu Lukaku, was switched back to the left wing.
And it wasn’t about to change for the sake of bringing in the Portuguese.
“We expected better from ourselves, we didn’t show the quality we have”. “All clubs invest money in players”.
The date of March 13, 2018 will be forever etched in the annals of Sevilla FC sitting alongside other key matches in the club’s history.
“I am very happy to win here in this special, historic place”, head coach Vincenzo Montella said after reaching the quarter-finals.
Advertisement
Mourinho, who used to manage in Spain with giants Real Madrid, also explained how he felt that Sevilla had “control” of the tie after they managed to hold United to a 0-0 draw during the first leg a fortnight ago.
