United boss claims officials ‘have a different set of rules’ for him
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has risked a new run-in with the English soccer authorities by claiming he is judged by a different set of rules.
Mourinho slammed perceived inconsistencies in a cryptic post-match media conference after watching United held to a scoreless draw by Hull City at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Mourinho was upset at referee Mike Jones’ failure to clamp down on what he saw as time-wasting and for the official’s failure to show Hull’s Oumar Niasse a second yellow card for a high challenge on Marcos Rojo.
But when asked for his views on the officiating, Mourinho replied: “Don’t ask me questions I cannot answer.”
He went on to allude to his own stadium ban last season, during his time as Chelsea manager and the recent behavior of his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger and Liverpool rival Jurgen Klopp.
Wenger was hit with a fourgame ban for pushing the fourth official, while Klopp revealed he had apologized after screaming in the fourth official’s face during a 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
“You know clearly that I am different,” Mourinho said. “I am different. The set of rules for me is different.
“I am different in everything. I watched my team play in a hotel when I was banned because I was forbidden to go to the stadium. My assistant had a six-match stadium ban and he didn’t touch anyone.
“Yesterday, one fourth official told a manager: ‘I enjoy very much your passion, so do what you want to do.’
“Today I was told, ‘Sit down or I have to send you to the stands.’ Everything is different for me.
“So don’t ask me questions that put me in a difficult situation. To end the story, I just
You know clearly that I am different. I am different. The rules for me are different.” Jose Mourinho, Manchester United manager
want to say the simple: 0-0, a great point for them, congratulations to Hull City.
“It’s a bad point for us. We have to keep going because we have another game on the weekend.”
Walked out
“I’m not happy with the result,” added Mourinho, whose side was left four points off the top four, in sixth place.
“I won’t criticize the opponents because they are fighting for their lives. Every point for them is golden.
“They have to fight with everything they have. They tried to see what they were allowed to do.
“The referee gave them feedback and then they were comfortable doing what they did for 90 minutes.
“I’m not critical of the opposition because they are fighting for their lives.”
Mourinho then walked out of the Old Trafford media room without taking questions about defender Phil Jones, who limped off in the second half with an apparent hamstring injury.
He had earlier walked out of a television interview after less than two minutes.
Hull collected an important point in its battle for survival under new manager Marco Silva, with goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic making several vital saves.
“I am happy,” said Silva, whose side was beaten by United in the League Cup semifinals last week.
“The performance showed a good organization in many moments again. We played as a team and when we needed to suffer, we were ready to suffer.
“The team showed good character, which is important for me, and I am happy.”
Hull might even have emerged victorious had Lazar Markovic’s late shot not hit the post, but Silva conceded victory would have flattered the visiting side.
“In the second half we improved when we changed to put three centerbacks in and we had good chances,” he said.
“The first was for Lazar Markovic and then when Abel Hernandez went into the box, but we didn’t score.
“United also had good chances during the match, but I think we deserved the result.
“It’s important for us. It gives confidence for our team and our players, but it is only one point.”