Mourinho’s tired old lines so very costly

JOSE MOURINHO has spent the last month complaining about the fixture backlog and his players being left fatigued. Manchester United played like a team who have convinced themselves they are worn out. Sometimes if you say something too often you begin to believe it. Yes, United had nine games in April but surely that’s what they always wanted – to be in major competitions at the business end of the season. Mourinho made eight changes, rested and rotated players with the Europa League semi-final against Celta Vigo in mind – and ended up paying a heavy price. This is, after all, Manchester United. The so-called biggest club in the world, managed by the biggest name in world football and yet they threw it in. Mourinho said: “My changes were not to improve my team but to give rest to the people who need rest. Now they have 90 minutes in their legs and we will have our core ready for a very important match on Thursday.” Surely Arsenal was a very important match. But Mourinho has put all his eggs in the Europa League basket, relying on winning that to get into the Champions League – even though victory here would have put their top-four destiny back in their own hands. If he wins two trophies and gets into the Champions League it’s been a good season. If the gamble backfires, the Special One will surely have to admit he has got it wrong. United were just OK at Arsenal, as Gunners keeper Petr Cech made two outstanding saves and then Arsenal won the game with a heavy deflection and a goal three minutes later. But United lacked their usual zip and quality, no doubt because they have kept on hearing from Mourinho how tired they are. Wayne Rooney was making only his fourth start in the Premier League in 2017 but his performance was more Chinese Super League than Premier League. You got the feeling Mourinho only brought on young Scott Mctominay at the end to prove a point. United only lost because it was United’s second string with kids in their line-up. Typical Jose. A sore loser to the end.