FULHAM 1
MAN UTD 4
not a single United fan being able to point the finger at us saying we do not give everything,” he said.
“The team was there to win and give everything and when you give everything nobody can point the finger at you.”
This was United’s first victory in five league matches but, on the back of a battling display against Arsenal in midweek, further evidence they are moving in the right direction.
Paul Pogba started that Arsenal game on the bench, and was an unused substitute here – though Mourinho insisted he would be starting with the controversial Frenchman in the Champions League on Wednesday night, and expects him to “show everyone how good he is” against Valencia.
It was certainly a positive, happy Mourinho who breezed into the press conference – only to find no drinking water.
He said: “Are we saving money? No water. Maybe we are saving money for January.”
If United continue to pull in the right direction, Mourinho could well be backed with a bucketload of funds next month.
He lavished praise on his players in his programme notes, stressing that Fulham have conceded in 20 consecutive Premier League games – their longest ever run without a clean sheet in the top tier. “nobody can deny they have guts” after the spirited show against Arsenal.
But a few of them could be forgiven for feeling a bit queasy, given the rotation of the squad this season.
No other manager in the top flight has made more changes. But clearly keeping record signing Pogba on the bench is the gamble which generates the most pressure if United struggle.
Given that, Mourinho could hardly have wished for a better first half.
Young opened the scoring after 13 minutes, curling a fine shot inside Sergio Rico’s far post after advancing in from the left. The second arrived just before the half-hour. Phil Jones stole the ball and initiated a sweeping move through Young, Lukaku and Rashford down the left. Rashford’s pull-back was met by Mata, who curled home – the Spaniard’s 50th goal in the Premier League. He landed his 50th assist too, a neat cutback for Lukaku to clip in from eight yards with half-time approaching. Fulham boss