‘ Sleeping’ giants suffer another setback in Istanbul
Jose Mourinho felt let down by Manchester United’s players, accusing them of ignoring his advice and treating yesterday’s Europa League clash at Fenerbahce like a “summer friendly”.
On the back of last weekend’s frustrating 0- 0 draw against Burnley, during which United took 37 shots, and with a touchline ban looming at Swansea this weekend, any hopes Mourinho had of a morale- boosting victory in Istanbul was swiftly extinguished.
Moussa Sow’s outrageous overhead kick after 65 seconds gave Fenerbahce a lead that Jeremain Lens, on loan from Sunderland, extended with a superb second- half free kick. Wayne Rooney superbly pulled one back late on — equalling Ruud van Nistelrooy’s 38- goal record as United’s all- time European top scorer — but a frantic final few minutes was unable to prevent a 2- 1 loss.
Mourinho pulled no punches in his post- match assessment.
“Our problem started in our global attitude,” he said. “They [ Fener bahce] were playing the Champions League final and we were playing a summer friendly. That is the reality of the way the game started.”
This was always going to be a far cry from United’s 4- 1 win over Fenerbahce at Old Trafford a fortnight ago, but they froze in front of the baying Sukru Saracoglu Stadium crowd.
“You come to Turkey and it i s completely different story, so I told them to wait for that, told them not to be focused on the easy game we had at Old Trafford and to be ready for a completely different game,” Mourinho said.
“We started the game sleeping. I know that we have a problem and especially away from home, it’s difficult to play without two proper central defenders.
“They had the kickoff, they go immediately, the referee gives a free kick. They take the free kick in a fast way, we are sleeping, we don’t react.
“Then it’s a ball in the other side, we lose the second ball. Then the cross is coming, we don’t mark Sow in the box and then the game i s a different story.
“Then they are where they want to be. They are in front, then they can control the game, they can defend with a lot of bodies, they can wait for counter- attacks.
“They can simulate a few fouls, put some pressure on the referee, stop the game, win time, provoke some conflicts. But it is not their fault, it our fault that we let them be 1- 0 in front.”
“Then obviously when you are losing 2- 0, the players had a reaction and they tried and probably they could [ have equalised]. But I think we don’t deserve because for me football i s from the first second and Fenerbahce played an emotional game. Football is an emotional game and they deserve [ to win].”
The result sees Fenerbahce usurp United in the Group A standings, but Mourinho remains confident his side will qualify.
Such predictions meant little to former Sunderland and Rangers boss Dick Advocaat, who was enjoying the moment after leading his side to victory.
They [ Fenerbahce] were playing the Champions League final and we were playing a summer friendly. Jose Mourinho on the approach of the two teams to yesterday’s Europa League tie