MOURINHO POSITIVE DESPITE CUP DEFEAT
JOSE Mourinho saw promise rather than problems after Manchester United lost the UEFA Super Cup 2-1 to Real Madrid.
The annual meeting of the Champions League and Europa League winners proved an entertaining encounter, with the Red Devils impressing at times and being outclassed on many others.
Romelu Lukaku’s late goal gave United hope after Casemiro and Isco put Real Madrid into what ultimately proved an unassailable lead, with Zinedine Zidane’s men triumphing 2-1 and wrapping up back-to-back Super Cups.
Mourinho was annoyed that Casemiro was not called off-side for the first-half opener, but the United boss found it hard to argue that his former club did not deserve the lead at that point.
“There was a goal that was off-side,” he said.
“If not, we would be talking about 0-0 at half-time and a different game.
“But the domination is the consequence of quality of a team that is superior, that has great quality players in midfield that control the game … that keep possession.
“They touch the ball well, they pass it very well. It is a consequence of that.”
Unlike many occasions, though, Mourinho did not get caught up in that frustration – instead he focused on the positives ahead of Sunday’s Premier League opener against West Ham.
Real Madrid counterpart Zidane was proud of his players’ efforts, saying they “never get tired of winning” having continued their remarkable run of success under his tutelage.