Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has aimed a sly dig at Ed Woodward following the club’s 0-0 draw against Valencia.
The Red Devils registered their second successive winless result at home after a lackluster performance against Valencia.
Manchester United supporters expressed their frustration by booing off the players following the full-time whistle. The win sees Manchester united at second place in their group. They are two points behind Juventus who beat Young Boys 3-0 without Cristiano Ronaldo thanks to a hat-trick from Paulo Dybala.
Following the match, Mourinho criticised his players but said that there were some improvements from the defeat against West Ham.
Mourinho said, “There were some improvements in our performance. We had probably a couple of the biggest chances to win it but I have accepted the result as a fair result. I said in pre-season last season was phenomenal to finish second. And I don’t say more than that.
The players tried. They raised the level of their efforts. They raised the level of their intensity in spite of the fact we don’t have many with that intensity. We don’t have the technical quality to build from the back. We tried to do something we did well which was to stop a fast team on the counter attack. We knew we wouldn’t create 20 chances.
Our attacking players aren’t in their best moments of confidence and individual level. We thought with three or four chances we would score and win the game.
It is a not a bad result. Not a good result, but not bad. We have two matches against Juventus to make points. It is a very difficult group, yes. We have Newcastle before the league stops then we have Chelsea and Juventus in three days. It will be good for the team if we can beat Newcastle.
I think there are things that are difficult for me to say. I think you have enough reasons to criticise me.”
Mourinho’s comment about the team’s lack of quality to build from the back seems like a taunt towards Manchester United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
During the summer transfer window, Mourinho was eager to sign a centre-back and he set his sights on Toby Alderweireld and Harry Maguire.
However, the prices for both players were pretty high and Woodward did not buy them.
Manchester United’s backline seems a little shaky and that’s one thing they have to work on.
The Red Devils now play against Newcastle United on Saturday. Their next Champions League fixture is against Juventus three weeks later. That match will see Cristiano Ronaldo return to Old Trafford after five years.
