Mourinho frustrated as United bow out
Antonio Conte got the better of Jose Mourinho for the second time this season as Chelsea beat 10-man Manchester United 1-0 at Stamford Bridge to reach the FA Cup semifinals yesterday.
N’Golo Kante’s 51st-minute goal was enough for Conte’s doublechasing side to break United’s resistance after the visitors had Ander Herrera sent off after 35 minutes for a second yellow card — both for crude fouls on Eden Hazard.
Chelsea skipper Gary Cahill said of Kante: ‘‘He’s been fantastic. You see what he did last season [for Leicester].
‘‘He has come here and he has kicked on again. He’s such a humble guy off the pitch, works hard. He’s a tremendous addition to the squad and he’s won us the game with a goal today, which is great.
‘‘We dug in and gave a good account of ourselves. I thought it was a professional performance from us today, we controlled the game when we needed to.’’
United, who face a Europa League last 16 tie on Friday against Russian club Rostov, were missing the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic and injured Wayne Rooney and offered little threat once Kante had beaten David de Gea with a precise low shot.
While Mourinho was spared the humiliation of the 4-0 thrashing his old club dished out in October’s Premier League meeting — his first return to Stamford Bridge since being sacked last season — he was again found wanting as Chelsea’s fans delighted in chanting the name of his successor Conte.
Mourinho’s frustration boiled over at times and the Portuguese and Italian Conte had to be separated after an angry exchange shortly after Herrera’s sending off left United facing a mammoth task.
Mourinho at first said he did not want to comment.
‘‘I don’t speak. I just want to say that I’m really proud of my players, I’m really proud of Manchester United fans.
‘‘I think we all watched the match until the red card and after the red card and then we can compare the decision of the two yellow cards in this case with other ones that were not given, but I don’t want to go in that direction.
‘‘Mr Michael Oliver — a referee with fantastic potential. Manchester United were a bit unlucky. In four matches, three penalties and one red card in such an early moment of the game but again I cannot change that.’’
Mourinho approached Oliver after the game but did not bring up the red card.
He said: ‘‘I shook his hand, I told him many congratulations. There is nothing to speak [about].’’
Chelsea could have won by more, although holders United did have their moments and came close to an equaliser in the second half when Marcus Rashford was foiled by keeper Thibaut Courtois.
Chelsea meet Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-finals which will be played on April 22-23 at Wembley Stadium.
Arsenal clash with Manchester City in the other tie.