I’m really happy HONEST
Mourinho doesn’t Luk like he’s celebrating his star’s goal but insists it’s just his ‘maturity’
JOSE MOURINHO insists he’s given up celebrating after another difficult 24 hours in the title race.
Manchester City’s players taunted their rivals by posting a dressing-room video of themselves celebrating victory over Spurs by chanting: “Park the bus Man United”.
United were then left hanging on at struggling West Brom but are still 11 points behind leaders City and it has left Mourinho in no mood to party the City way.
And the United boss, famous for wild celebrations during his glory years at Chelsea and Porto, admitted Romelu Lukaku didn’t even celebrate his opening goal after glancing across to see him looking miserable on the touchline.
Mourinho said: “I didn’t celebrate too. Nobody was happier than me – 15 years ago I look at myself celebrating goals. With maturity you go into levels where you control your emotions better.
“You get more experienced, you get more balanced. You don’t go crazy when you win. You don’t get depressed when you lose. You are much more stable with experience.
“Some other managers are different and they don’t change. I change. If I score a goal in the last minute you will see me run, for sure. But a goal in minute 20-something, 1-0 with a lot to play ... let’s play.
“I didn’t see (the video). I am not interested in doing that. For me nothing.
“Lukaku didn’t celebrate for two reasons. His love for West Brom. He was a happy kid here, they helped him to feel loved, made him feel at home.
“It was here he exploded in the Premier League. And probably the second thing is he looks at me and I don’t celebrate too. And he probably says, ‘If he doesn’t celebrate why should I?’”
Lukaku’s goal came after 27 minutes. Jonny Evans made a clearance, Scotland midfielder Oliver Burke didn’t do enough to stop Marcus Rashford providing the cross and Lukaku outjumped Kieran Gibbs to head into the top corner.
United doubled their lead after 35 minutes. Lukaku and Juan Mata helped set up Jesse Lingard and his low shot deflected off Ahmed Hegazi past West Brom keeper Ben Foster.
It looked game over. But West Brom came out for the second half fighting. United looked vulnerable after Antonio Valencia hobbled off with a hamstring injury after 66 minutes and Rashford was booked after confronting Hegazi after claiming he had been elbowed.
United’s nerves in defence got even worse after 77 minutes when substitute Chris Brunt’s corner created havoc, Marcos Rojo clashed with Evans and Gareth Barry sidefooted home. The United boss bemoaned the injury to Valencia but insisted they won’t give up chasing City.
Mourinho added: “The Valencia injury is what I call a December injury. An injury of the accumulation of fatigue. He’s an experienced guy for not to let it go to difficult limits.
“The questions are always coming in the same direction and I keep saying the same. Last match in the Premier League, Watford at Old Trafford mid-May and until then every match we go. Every match we try to win.”