Mourinho still has a lot of bottle, hits back at critics
LONDON: Jose Mourinho once again stole the show from his players, smashing drinks crates to the ground after Marouane Fellaini’s late winner took Manchester United into the Champions League knockout stages and eliciting headlines on Wednesday such as “Bottle of Red”.
Thevolatile55-year-oldportuguese -- whose mood swings and barbed remarks about virtually all his players and the transfer policy of the board havecastapallovertheclubthisseason -- said the violence of his reaction was the product of several factors.
Fellaini’s winner against Young Boys and Valencia’s defeat by Juventus ensured the ‘Red Devils’ progress, though it is likely as runners-up which will pit them against a group winner in the last 16.
“Relief,” Mourinho said of his celebrations. Frustration before that and relief with the goal. We didn’t play to be in trouble until the last minute, so frustration.”
Alongwithhisteam,mourinhohas been consistently criticised this season, largely for United’s turgid style of play. The late victory might have toneddowntheheadlinesonthebritish sports pages on Wednesday, but they were still far from positive.
‘Water Boy’, ‘Smash & Grab’ and the Sun’s typically humorous play on words ‘Water Load of Rubbish’ would have greeted Mourinho this morning if he had cared to read the papers at his breakfast table in his hotel suite in Manchester which has been his home since he took over in 2016.