Mourinho on offensive after being Hammer-ed
Jose Mourinho aimed another shot at those who criticise his team selection after Manchester United crashed to defeat at West Ham.
Mourinho left the under-performing Alexis Sanchez out of his squad for the trip to the London Stadium and then revealed his decision to start with a back three, including midfielder Scott Mctominay, was to accommodate Anthony Martial.
But Martial was hauled off with 20 minutes remaining, along with Paul Pogba, as Felipe Anderson’s early strike, a Victor Lindelof owngoal and Marko Arnautovic’s finish left United empty-handed.
And Mourinho’s glowing praise of youngster Mctominay gave the distinct impression that he was sending a message to certain other players.
“I wanted to play Martial, it’s something (people) are asking for a long, long, long time,” he said.
“I left Alexis out, and I think Martial is not a player very focused on his defensive duties so to play him as second striker would be easier for him.
“But at the same time I felt we needed quality on the ball, building from the back, and Scott Mctominay has that quality. Everything that left his foot was correct.
“He’s a special character, a special personality that a team in a negative moment needs. Do my other players have that mentality? Not all of them. Everybody is a different person.
“Scott Mctominay is kid with a special character, very humble, aggressive in a positive way, brave, he’s a special kid.”
Unfortunately for United the back three found a front three – Anderson, Arnautovic and Andriy Yarmolenko – in blistering form. West Ham, buoyed by a fortnight which had seen them take four points from Everton and Chelsea before putting eight past Macclesfield in the Carabao Cup, were ahead after five minutes.
Pablo Zabaleta was slipped in behind Luke Shaw down United’s left and his low cross was met at the near post with a deft backheel from Anderson.
West Ham’s attacking triumvirate constantly had United’s rearguard constantly on the back foot throughout the first half. However, whenever Romelu Lukaku is on the pitch West Ham have to be wary.
The Belgian striker had previously scored 11 goals in 11 games against the Hammers and was inches away from a dozen when he headed Ashley Young’s cross against a post.
But if United looked occasionally dangerous in attack they were constantly unconvincing at the back, and they fell two behind just before half-time. Nemanja Matic stood off Yarmolenko as he tried to make space to shoot and when the Ukrainian did pull the trigger his effort ballooned off Lindelof and flew into the top corner.
Mourinho stuck to his guns at half-time, sticking with the same personnel and formation.
The malaise continued, though, with Young firing a corner straight at Mark Noble, who was able to start a counter-attck which ended with Arnautovic firing over the crossbar. With the away fans demanding their side “attack, attack, attack” Mourinho replaced Lindelof with England international Marcus Rashford.
Young responded with a sharp run down the right and crossed for Marouane Fellaini, but his downward header was superbly clawed out by Lukasz Fabianski.
Moments after Pogba had left the field United halved the deficit, this time Rashford with the clever flick at the near post.
But gaps at the back remained and when Noble played an inch perfect ball between United’s two remaining centre-halves, Arnautovic burst through to seal a deserved win and pile on the misery for Mourinho.
Mourinho claimed Zabaleta was offside, and that the same defender fouled Marcus Rashford in the build-up to Arnautovic’s late goal, which came moments after Rashford had halved the deficit.
But he did admit defensive errors were to blame for Yarmolenko’s shot looping into the top corner off Lindelof just before half-time.
Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini said: “I’ve not seen the goals yet. But we scored three, United had two opportunities. “Otherwise I don’t remember any tense moments in our box. I think the result reflects what happened in the 90 minutes.”
On the absence of his fellow Chilean, Pellegrini added: “I was surprised about no Alexis Sanchez.
“That for me was a relief because Alexis makes a difference. They have very decisive players in the last metres, but I think Alexis gives a little bit more.’’