“I know you have to manage a certain way when you’re manager of Manchester United, but if you take away that brashness you lose what Jose Mourinho is about”, Neville said.
Advertisement
“Hopefully the young lads who have their hands on their first trophy – Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial – can feel what I felt when I won mine, which was a lot of determination and desire to win more”.
When asked if winning the cup meant he would go out on a high, he replied: “I don’t want to talk about leaving the club”.
Had United moved to replace the 64-year-old at that point, they may very well have finished in the Champions League places given how unconvincing Manchester City’s form was in the second half of the season. The question was whether United could make their possession and superior passing ability tell before Palace used their pace to try to catch them on the counter.
Palace manager Alan Pardew tasted defeat in an FA Cup final for the third time, having been on the losing team when United beat the south London club in a replay in 1990 and overseen West Ham United’s loss on penalties to Liverpool in 2006.
The Old Trafford hierarchy is expected to issue a statement following today’s FA Cup final between Louis van Gaal’s side and Crystal Palace.
“He hasn’t spoken to us about it and I think it’s unfair after we have just won the cup to speak about his future”, Rooney said.
Manchester Utd legend Phil Neville says Jose Mourinho has a track record of falling out with players … I have said when I started that we are in a process of transition.
Former Chelsea boss Mourinho has been out of work since he was sacked by the West London club in December. “When United are coming, the price is much more than double”. “United fans want a team challenging for the league title, they don’t want a team finishing in seventh or fifth”.
“It was unbelievable that we had injuries again but in spite of going down to 10 players we showed the spirit we have shown on the road to the final”.
Mourinho has been reported to have been planning his time at United for some time, so there is a huge contrast in that regard.
“It is an important moment for the football club”, Rooney said.
Smalling saw red but United kept its cool, with Lingard striking in the 110th minute to deny Palace a first major trophy.
The trophy represents the club’s first success since Alex Ferguson retired as first team coach after winning the league title in 2013 and ends a spell of three years without silverware.
Now, however, it appears the Man United hierarchy is ready to see change come to the club after two disappointing seasons in a row.
Advertisement
“I think he’s a good manager”.
