Mourinho hits out at critics
JOSE Mourinho has claimed he is being judged unfairly by critics after Manchester United conceded a late penalty in a damaging 1-1 draw at Everton.
Mourinho’s team have won just twice in the league since the end of August, a run which has featured numerous draws and has derailed United’s hopes of winning a title in their manager’s debut season at Old Trafford.
However, Mourinho, who earned a reputation for not always winning in the most attractive style when in charge of Chelsea, insists his side are playing well and that he is being held to a double standard.
“You have to make a decision because when my teams are playing pragmatic football and winning matches and winning titles, you say it is not right and nice,” he said.
“When my teams play very, very well, there is a huge change in relation to the past two or three years. Now you say what matters is to get a result, no matter what.
“At the moment, teams are getting results, defending with 11 players, keeping the ball and playing on the counterattack. You have to make a decision.”
The last comment may have been a thinly disguised reference to Chelsea’s style of play.
But, in any case, United had only themselves to blame for their latest disappointment as late substitute Marouane Fellaini tripped Idrissa Gueye and Leighton Baines struck the equalising penalty.
Mourinho, whose side are 13 points behind leaders Chelsea, did not take kindly to questions about his decision to bring on the Belgian and said: “I thought you would know more about football than you do.
“It is obvious. Everton is not a passing team. They play direct. Everything is direct.
“When a team is losing it plays direct, when you have a player on the bench with two metres [height] you play that player in front of the defensive line to win the match.”
Baines’s penalty cancelled out the opening goal from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a strong spell from United, who also saw Ander Herrera hit a post.
“It was another game with a very good performance in a very difficult place to play,” Mourinho said.