BLUES OVER THE MOON
FURIOUS Jose Mourinho laid into Paul Pogba and the rest of his stars after they sparked Manchester City’s title party last night. The Manchester United boss accused his players of over-complicating their football and complacency as they crashed to a shock 1-0 home defeat to basement club West Brom – a week after beating City to delay their celebrations.
Jay Rodriguez’s second-half header earned Albion a win that gives them a relegation lifeline and ensured City were crowned champions with five games remaining. Mourinho said: “I think we were deservedly punished because we were masters in complication. Everything was complicated, players they didn’t want to play simple.
“There was no fluidity in our football. We gave them the opportunity to win. I have lots of
experience and I am not over the moon because I won against City – which is only three points – but I saw lots of people on the moon because we beat City. “During the week I was trying to fight that, you see the players today were trying to be stylish, one more touch, one more flick. A loss is harsh but we didn’t deserve to not win this match.
“You could see the difference in the attitude to players compared to last week. We deserve to be punished, but the defeat was too heavy.”
A week after sparking United’s comeback at the Etihad with two goals, Pogba, right, suffered the indignity of being substituted in the 58th minute.
Mourinho said: “Paul had a yellow card and had a situation where he may have had another booking. But he was complicated like all the rest of the players, one more touch always.”
But he denied City had won the title because United lost this game – insisting they were going to win it anyway – and congratulated his old rival Guardiola.
He said: “I won titles and I wouldn’t be happy if somebody tells I won the title because someone lost the match. City won the title because they were the best this season. To say they won the title because United lost is not fair to them.
“City won the title because they have more points than anybody else. It is not for me to compare
the teams. It is time for Manchester City to speak about themselves, not for me.”
But Mourinho insists United will offer a sterner challenge to their neighbours next season.
“I trust in my work,” he said. “I have no reason not to trust. Eight titles and three in the Premier League – and the last of them was not 20 years ago, it was three years ago and I know how to win. I believe in myself but I don’t play. I think with my experience you don’t win titles with inconsistency.
“You win, of course, with quality but with consistency in every level, not just the performance level but also the mental level, the day by day, everything must be consistent until the last day.”
Yesterday’s game summed up United’s up -and-down season. It was hardly ideal preparation for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham and also puts them in danger of being pipped for second place by Liverpool.
Albion defended resolutely and took their chance when Rodriguez – just cleared of a racism charge by the FA – stooped to head home in the 72nd minute. Albion remain bottom but caretaker manager Darren Moore hailed the unity of his side even as they remain seemingly bound for relegation. “There’s a wonderful belief in the club and I think we showed that today,” he said. “We’ve got faith in one another, the players and the staff. Things have gone a little by the wayside this year but it’s really important to show that fighting spirit.”