Manager pleased as Reds show grit

UNITED laboured for the majority of their 1-0 triumph over Burnley, but manager Jose Mourinho was satisfied with how his players adapted against a physical side.

“It’s a different kind of performance to try to have, but it is a performance needed to get a result against a brave team like Burnley,” Mourinho explained.

“We know the way they play, they are better than anyone playing that way, we had to adapt to be successful, we adapted well by the defensive point of view.

“We should have scored a second goal to kill it off and put ourselves in a position to fight until the last second, and the best image of it was with Pope [Nick, Burnley’s goalkeeper] in the box for the last couple of crosses and that’s the image of how competitive the game was.”

United recorded a fifth successive clean sheet in their win over Sean Dyche’s side and have not conceded since the Clarets scored twice at Old Trafford on Boxing Day.

Mourinho restored Ashley Young to the back four at Turf Moor and was pleased with his defenders’ organisation.

“We have defended well since the beginning of the season,” Mourinho added.

“Normally we don’t concede many goals, the team is well organised, the defenders in form, David [de Gea] today, I don’t remember anything important.

“He’s very crucial for us and we controlled the game very well.”