Sanchez made right connection

JOSE Mourinho told Alexis Sanchez to ‘connect’ United’s midfield and attack before their second-half comeback against City.

The Reds trailed 2-0 at the interval after Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan netted in a dominant first half for the champions-elect and United players experienced a lively dressing room discussion, with Michael Carrick, Ashley Young and Ander Herrera particularly outspoken.

The Reds manager was content with midfielders Paul Pogba, Herrera and Nemanja Matic at half-time, but was unhappy with Sanchez and Jesse Lingard’s first-half performances.

Sanchez played a pivotal role in Pogba’s first on 53 minutes before he assisted the Frenchman’s equaliser and Smalling’s winner.

The Chilean received a kiss from Pogba upon his late substitution.

“I told my midfield players that they didn’t need to improve because they were playing very well, even in the firsthalf,” Mourinho said.

“I think it’s very difficult to be a midfield player against Manchester City and Paul, Ander and Matic were playing really well, but I need more from Lingard and Alexis.

“I needed them to connect our good football in midfield and especially I needed my defenders to be a little more confident. With just a little bit of pressure by City they were kicking the ball, they were nervous, they were not bringing the ball with quality to my midfielders. So I needed improvement in terms of the confidence of them, also to bring the line up, so we could press a little bit.”