THAT WAS FOR THE FANS, SAYS JOSE
JOSE Mourinho claims he did not see the anti-Ed Woodward plane banner which flew over Turf Moor before United’s win over Burnley yesterday.
United supporters on an online forum arranged for a banner that read ‘Ed Woodward: A specialist in failure!’ to fly overhead 20 minutes before kick-off amid dissatisfaction with the running of the club. The ‘specialist in failure’ quote is a reference to Mourinho’s description for then-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger while he was managing Chelsea in 2014.
Woodward failed to clinch two of Mourinho’s priority targets in the summer, amid interest in Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld and Chelsea winger Willian. Some fans feel Woodward has undermined Mourinho by vetoing his suggested transfer targets and it is understood United decided against moves for 29-year-olds Alderweireld and Willian since they were too ‘short-term.’
Mourinho was vociferously backed again by United supporters at Burnley but said Woodward ‘won’ on an afternoon where the executive vice-chairman’s competence was questioned by certain United followers.
“I don’t watch,” Mourinho said. “In the match I’m not looking to the sky unless I’m asking something for the guy to give me help, I didn’t see planes but Ed Woodward won this afternoon. He won 2-0.”
Mourinho recently insisted he had ‘no problems’ with Woodward, despite suffering two losses in United’s first four league fixtures.
Meanwhile, the United boss believes Marcus Rashford showed ‘naivety’ as he received a first career red card yesterday at Turf Moor.
Former United defender Phil Bardsley kicked out at Rashford in the 71st minute and Rashford responded by butting heads with the Burnley fullback and was sent off by referee Jon Moss.
Mourinho suggested Bardsley used his experience to his advantage.
“Moss had a good game, good performance really,” Mourinho said.
“I think the same as the two assistants.
“And in that action the only thing I can say is probably the experience of Bardsley with 20 years of football against the impulse and naivety of a guy that is on top football for about three years but is still a young kid.”