Mourinho unhappy with United’s fringe players
manchester — Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has demanded more from his fringe players after he was forced to bring on regular starters in an attempt to stage a late rally in the 2-1 Champions League defeat at Valencia on Wednesday.
United went into the final Group H match having already qualified for the last 16 of the competition, a luxury that allowed Mourinho to rotate his squad, but the manager found little comfort in a performance that lacked energy and drive.
“I expect more from my players,” Mourinho, who made eight changes to the side that beat Fulham 4-1 in the league last weekend, told reporters.
“Especially players that week in, week out, they ask why they don’t play, why they don’t start... it was a good match to play, without any
kind of pressure, in a competition that everyone likes to play in.”
Paul Pogba returned to the starting side after being benched for the last two Premier League games but the French international midfielder failed to seize his opportunity.
United then introduced striker Marcus Rashford, and midfielders
Jesse Lingard and Ashley Young as they chased the game after falling 2-0 behind.
“In the end, my team improved when I made changes I didn’t want to make, which is frustrating because I didn’t want to play the three players I played in the second half,” Mourinho added. —