Mourinho slams critics after Man United fightback
LONDON (AP):
JUST WHEN José Mourinho needed it most, Manchester United dug deep to pull off a gutsy victory.
The under-fire manager still managed to lash out at detractors after the 3-2 victory over Newcastle yesterday, claiming that he would even be blamed for the weather and the progress of Brexit negotiations.
Following a newspaper report that he could be fired because of poor results and frequent criticism of his players, Mourinho was a picture of abject misery on the touchline as United went 2-0 down against Newcastle after only 10 minutes of their English Premier League match at Old Trafford.
An animated Mourinho reacted with fury, screaming at his players and gesticulating wildly.
In a five-minute span in the second half, United equalised. The winner came in the 90th minute when substitute Alexis Sanchez headed home and United ended a run of four matches without a win in all competitions.
Mourinho was relieved but still irritated by weeks of criticism.
“As a friend of mine was saying to me this morning, if tomorrow it rains in London, it is my fault,” Mourinho said. “If there (are) some difficulties with the agreements of Brexit, it is my fault.
“I think a lot of wickedness, and clear man-hunting, in football is too much. It is my life. It is a life I love, and since I was a kid, I work for this.”
United moved six points behind front-runners Manchester City and Liverpool, who play today. Tottenham, who beat Cardiff 1-0, are a point off the pace in third.
Newcastle, winless in seven previous league outings, could scarcely believe their luck early on in Manchester. Wing back Kenedy, a former player of Mourinho’s during his second spell at Chelsea, sprinted through the middle of the defence to open the scoring in the 7th minute.
Within three minutes, United’s sleepy defence allowed Yoshinori Muto to turn easily in the penalty area and beat goalkeeper David de Gea with a low shot.
FALL GUY
An embarrassed Eric Bailly took on the role of United fall guy when Mourinho hauled off the Ivory Coast centre half after only 19 minutes and replaced him with midfielder Juan Mata.
Mata, though, pulled a goal back when he curled in a free kick in the 70th. Six minutes later, Anthony Martial cut inside after swapping passes with Paul Pogba to equalise with a venomous low shot.
“At halftime, we had a good conversation. We didn’t promise that we would win the match. We promised we would give absolutely everything without any fear, without any pressure, just the pressure of giving everything, and, of course, they gave everything. We fought so much,” Mourinho said.
DIER LIFTS SPURS
Eric Dier struck his first club goal in 18 months in the eighth minute as Tottenham made it three victories in as many league matches and left Cardiff still searching for their first win.
Cardiff were reduced to 10 when Joe Ralls was sent off in the 58th minute at Wembley Stadium.
Other results: Watford 0 Bournemouth 4; Crystal Palace 0 Wolverhampton 1; Burnley 1 Huddersfield 1; Leicester 1 Everton 2.