Mourinho fumes over attitude issues in St Etienne win
MANCHESTER: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho admit ted he was frustrated by his side’s over- conf ident approach to the first half of the 3- 0 Europa League round- of- 32 first- leg win over French side St Etienne on Thursday.
A hat- t rick from s t riker Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave the scorel ine a f lat tering look a f ter the P remier L eag ue side survived several nervy moments during the match at Old Traf ford, particularly in the first half.
“I am... especial ly because in the first half, we played so bad, and we managed to finish it winning 1- 0 when we don’t deserve. It was down to lack of concentration,” Mourinho told reporters when asked if he was happy with the result.
“I had the feeling immediately in the dressing room... too noisy, too funny, too relaxed. Then my assistants had the feeling in the warm- up, with some of the guys not really focused on the getting the right adrenaline in their bodies.
“Even mysel f on the touchline, I felt it was difficult, the communication. I needed the half- time. I am not happy with it. At half- time, the result could be 1-1. I always think we have to play every game with the same attitude.”
The Portuguese manager, however, did stress the second half was “a different story”.
United, who have lost once in their last 23 matches, travel to face second- tier side Blackburn Rovers in the fifth round on the FA Cup on Sunday. — Reuters