“You arrive at Old Trafford on Saturday and the only thing on your mind is about trying to get through, of course, to the next round”.
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Very few would saw that coming. It is a fixture some may consider to be a free pass, with Premier League survival the priority, but losing to a League One side would be a bad way for Hughes to ingratiate himself with Saints supporters. That has well and truly vanished now, the Red Devils were booed off the pitch by those who stayed until the end on Tuesday night. United were 3-0 up at half-time with “Captain Marvel” Bryan Robson scoring twice but passing up the chance of a hat-trick with a gesture that Wilkins said was “the mark of the man”.
“I don’t have regrets”, he added. We tried, we lost and that’s football.
A rare goal, his first and only major medal in English football, Jimmy Melia’s white shoes, Brighton’s helicopter ride to Wembley and the unforgettable “Smith must score” moment which ensured it went to a replay.
If you think that’s what he should be doing then tell him. “There was no desire, no energy, no speed about the team”. The first 18 months under the Italian manager were a struggle for him, with Pedro the preferred player to make up the numbers in the front three.
The only way they will do that is by playing the attacking football that supporters of the famous old club are so desperate to see, but Mourinho now seems so entrenched in the defensive side of things that it is hard to see the leopard changing his spots anytime soon.
If they were to be rested against the likes of Watford and Crystal Palace, could they suddenly turn in a top performance again in the Champions League quarterfinals?
United set out far too defensively in the defeat – despite not having the security of an away goal after a 0-0 draw in the first leg – but Mourinho defended his tactics and talked the club down in his post-match press conference, referencing his past successes against United in the Champions League.
“You’ve got to work with what you’ve got and they are short three or four players”.
“So, in the last four years the best was fourth”. “It’s a different competition which means we can change our focus as well”.
“Some of the players playing for Manchester United now aren’t good enough but it’s not their fault”.
City were no longer afraid to go to the best teams and attempt to impose their style. But as the Sevilla game proved, nothing is straightforward at Old Trafford anymore.
Pep Guardiola discusses the prospect of clinching the Premier League title against Manchester United. Today, Man Utd are linked with Willian…. “Since reaching the final in 2011, in 2012 out in group phase”.
The Champions League game at Sevilla, the Champions League game before that, Liverpool, Chelsea and even the other cup games as well.
“The goals were shocking ones to give away”.
Can’t watch Machester United v Brighton & Hove Albion live?
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Odds from William Hill and correct at time of writing.
