MANCHESTER UTD WOLVES ‘OUR DISPLAY’S A MOUT POINT’ Jose: We deserved punishment of getting only a draw
ONE team approached this clash like it was the World Cup Final. The other was Manchester United.
That was Jose Mourinho’s conclusion after compatriot Nuno Espirito Santo and his boys from the Black Country upset the Old Trafford chief.
His verdict was short. It was to the point. It was bang on the money, too.
“By the way they faced up the game, Wolves got what they deserved,” he said. “They played like it was the World Cup Final.
“I think the result is fair. They deserved their point and we deserve the punishment of only getting one point.
“They were in the game from the first minute.
“They played for every ball and went for every second ball with the maximum intensity. We didn’t. It’s difficult to win matches if you don’t do that.
“It’s a basic law of football. Something you learn in the academy. You have to play to the maximum of your potential and focus.
“We were lucky to score before them. It wasn’t a good performance and it wasn’t a good result, but it was a fair result”
Mourinho’s main anger was directed at his forwards – that was correct, too. Alexis Sanchez sparked but all too briefly. Romelu Lukaku was denied any time, found no space and was not over-burdened with the ball. Jesse Lingard showed good energy during the first-half – then disappeared in the second. The hosts’ best players were those in midfield. Paul Pogba showed a magnificent range of passing, but blotted his copybook because he was caught in possession for Wolves’ goal. Marouane Fellaini again provided an effective shield in front of the home centrehalves. And David de Gea produced two saves that prevented Mourinho from throwing his toys out of the pram. His first was a block with his feet from Raul Jiminez, the second was an outstanding piece of work from Willy Boly.
The defender charged on to a corner, connected powerfully with his head and somehow the Spaniard threw out a left hand to block it from only eight yards.
Again, the value of that stop was seen with the best piece of play Mourinho’s side produced all afternoon.
They worked an opportunity on the right. Wolves skipper Conor Coady nodded clear only to the edge of the area. Pogba produced a lovely first-time ball that went all of three yards.
Such was its quality that it allowed Fred to turn and rattle a drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
But the crucial moment of the afternoon arrived on the stroke of half-time.
A free-kick on the left-hand edge of the area was taken by the goalscorer.
He thumped the ball over the wall and it looked destined to nestle in the net.
Instead, Wolves keeper Rui ■ Manchester United have dropped six points from seven Premier League games at Old Trafford against newly promoted opposition under Jose Patricio palmed the ball on to the upright and away to safety.
Seven minutes after the re-start, Wolves hit back.
Helder Costa just about pulled the ball back, Jiminez held it up and his pass took a slight deflection off Antonio Valencia. It fell to Joao Moutinho. The veteran midfielder, signed for £5million from Monaco, adjusted his body beautifully before firing into the top corner from the edge of the area. It was a lovely strike.
Afterwards, Manchester United piled forwards, but it was route-one stuff.
Wolves played on the counter, and, with more ruthlessness in the dying seconds, they could have snatched it.
Santo said: “I’m proud of the way we started the game and proud of the way we played. I’m proud of the way we produced our football.
“Even after United scored, we played the way we wanted to play. If you want to achieve something, you have to believe.”
Quite simply, Wolves did. Manchester United, didn’t.