Jose cries foul over Sanchez treatment

LONDON: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes he may have to “cry a little bit more” to safeguard his players, in a thinly veiled jibe at rivals Manchester City.

Mourinho was unhappy at the rough treatment dished out to Alexis Sanchez on his Old Trafford debut last weekend as United saw off Huddersfield 2-0.

City boss Pep Guardiola has repeatedly called for more protection for his players following a slew of dangerous challenges. The most serious challenge, by Cardiff’s Joe Bennett on Leroy Sane, has sidelined the German for six weeks with ankle ligament damage.

Indeed, City have written to the body in charge of professional referees to raise their concerns and call for retrospective action when referees don’t dish out red cards when warranted.

“Maybe his manager needs to cry a little bit more,” said Mourinho on the punishment taken by Sanchez.

“I always liked English football. I try to feel English football has some cultural thing with tradition and there are some qualities I really like in the game but maybe I have to cry a little bit and protect my players.

“Really you can see the way Alexis was ‘welcomed’ by the opponent! You are right he is a tough boy, a pure guy who can cope with that. He coped at Yeovil too with some bad tackles like against Huddersfield.”

However, Mourinho insisted the more talented players on show at United or City should not get special treatment.

“I don’t like the word ‘protect’ the players because it looks like they have to protect only the top players but everybody on the pitch is the same.

“The referee cannot only look at the players and say ‘this guy is a talented one I have to protect him’, no he has to do it equally.”