‘Chelsea did not deserve to win’
MANCHESTER United’s Jose Mourinho bemoaned old foe Antonio Conte’s tactics as his side failed to breakdown Chelsea’s defensive wall in losing the FA Cup final 1-0 on Saturday. Eden Hazard’s 22nd minute penalty proved the difference between the teams to ensure Mourinho’s second season at Old Trafford ends without a trophy. United enjoyed a far better Premier League season than Chelsea as Conte’s men failed to even qualify for the Champions League by finishing fifth just a year after claiming the title. However, despite finishing second in the league to a record-breaking Manchester City side, Mourinho’s approach has been much-criticised this season for lacking the flair and invention displayed by City and Champions League finalists Liverpool. “I congratulate them because they won, but I don’t think they deserved to win,” Mourinho said.
Mourinho and Conte have consistently clashed since Conte arrived in England just under two years ago.
But tactically they have plenty in common as despite Mourinho’s protestations, Chelsea’s defensive resistance inspired by Conte’s organisation is exactly what Mourinho has made his own trademark in a trophyladen career.
Mourinho claimed on the eve of the game that he did not understand the media’s interpretation of entertaining.
In the Portuguese’s estimations, racking up 6-0 victories is not as exciting as “emotion until the end, the game open, everyone on the edge of their seats, both dug-outs nervous and tense with the result in doubt”. The final did deliver on that promise as Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois saved brilliantly from Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba headed wide as United tried in vain to force the game to extra time.
Mourinho has not been afraid to publicly criticise his players this season, most notably lambasting his squad after winning their Cup quarterfinal against Brighton in March.
However, one of two exceptions that night – along with Nemanja Matic, was Romelu Lukaku.
The Belgian striker has scored 27 goals in all competitions in his debut season at Old Trafford.
But even he bore the brunt of Mourinho’s frustration for only declaring himself fit enough for a late cameo appearance from the bench due to an ankle injury.