However, goals from Ander Herrera and Marcus Rashford in the second half secured Manchester United’s passage to the fourth round of the EFL Cup, but Page admit that the loss was disappointing.
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In a Premier League fixture played on September 10 at the same venue, the Citizens ran away with a 2-1 win as goals from Kevin De Bryune and Kelechi Iheanacho for City and a Zlatan Ibrahimovic solitary strike ensured victory for the away team.
United, who face Leicester on Saturday, had lost to Manchester City, Feyenoord and Watford in the space of eight days – and Mourinho has now rounded on his critics.
A mouth-watering clash with Pep Guardiola’s City now awaits in the fourth round, but Herrera is more interested in the positive impact Wednesday’s win can have for reigning champions Leicester’s visit at the weekend.
“When you play these kind of games, people don’t realise how hard it is”, he told beIN SPORTS after the Northampton game.
“We deserved to win clearly”, said Mourinho “[It was as] hard as I was expecting, but we were totally in control for the first 35 minutes and then we were again in control for the last 45.
“Hopefully we can win and we can keep being in the high (parts) of the table”.
“But I think collectively the team was fine”.
“We knew they would have light spells of possession, we knew we would create a couple of chances, and it was important when we created those chances we take them; we did that with the penalty”.
“We were not going to be able to drive too much the ball, so great victory and now we are facing in the next round Man City so it’s very good for everyone”.
“I think I should stop to speak about referees’ decisions”.
“We have another chance to play against a top team and show what we are able to do”.
“If the fans have been disappointed with the last week, I understand completely but I am sure they will be behind the team like they always are”.
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United didn’t have it all their own way during the game as they went in at half-time with the score at 1-1.
