JOSE MOURINHO HAS demanded a response from Manchester United following their humiliating defeat to Chelsea, challenging his players to show that they are “men”.
Mourinho endured an embarrassing return to Stamford Bridge on Sunday as former club Chelsea piled on the misery in a 4-0 Premier League rout.
United were put to the sword early on, conceding a goal to Pedro inside 30 seconds before Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante condemned the visitors to a third defeat of the season, leaving Mourinho and co. seventh in the table.
United have no time to lick their wounds, though, with arch-rivals Manchester City awaiting in the fourth round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
And Mourinho acknowledges that there is nowhere to hide for his players with the big games continuing to come thick and fast.
“I would prefer to play [next] in the Premier League. It’s a bad feeling in the Premier League. With the combination of results, the gap to the top is six points,” Mourinho told MUTV.
“We had a very difficult period of matches. We lost points this week and, even in the match when we played phenomenal against Stoke [a 1-1 draw], we lost points then. Now we need to win matches.
“I am not saying they are easy ones, but we have Burnley, we have Swansea, West Ham, Sunderland, Middlesbrough — matches that we need to win.
“The top four, top five, they have to play between themselves like we did this week against Chelsea and Liverpool.
“They are going to lose points too, so we are in the run, but there is no way to hide.
“We are really, really sad, but again this is not for kids, this is for men and…we have to be men and work for the next one.”
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Well seeing as they last won the english leauge some 28 years ago and have a tendency to sell there best strikers, why wouldn’t I think that,
@Jonathan Byrne:
I have never seen so much hype about a team who have won nothing ,are 20 points off winning their league, have again sold their best player mid season , and who all other teams in the last 4 of a cup competition wanted desperately to draw. No league title for nearly 30 years and just one 1 trophy in ten years same as the likes of Wigan. Am i missing something ??
@Joe O’riordan: missing nothing absolutely spot on
@Joe O’riordan: Missing something? Don’t think so, unless its your MU jersey and scarf.
@Joe O’riordan: Coutinho their best player? Liverpool are better without him
@Joe O’riordan: Liverpool didn’t sell Salah mid season?
Who knows next year might be there year they win the premier league…….. Pfffft. Salah will playing for real Madrid next aswell.
@Jonathan Byrne: best of luck with that
@Jonathan Byrne: haha nice try, at least the pool have a player that Real or Barca would want!
@Jonathan Byrne: Jeez those grapes are very sour…
@Jonathan Byrne: “Somebody please give me attention” – The Comment
@seancreaven13: I’m just laying down some facts, fair play to getting to the semis of the champions leauge this year, but I don’t think its sour grapes if what I say is true.
But but but didn’t they win the finishing above Utd trophy last year !!!
@powerfix: doesn’t carry the same prestige anymore.
@Mick Power: ou snap!
@Mick Power: aah you know it does Mick
@Carl Johnson: ou Marcus!
Well what seems to be emerging now is defending is much better, there was no evidence until now. If they can keep best players, add GK/defensive cover and with Keita coming in they will make PL challenge. I was surprised MU slipped yesterday, it seems they struggle more than LFC in breaking defensives down. With JM near 3 years he has to challenge next year but somehow I don’t see it. Yes they defend well but have ordinary attack.
For me the top 3 teams next year will be MC, Tot & LFC. MU should be there but JM would need dynamic players and changes his approach. I don’t see that happening. If they back him in transfer market he’ll get a final go using his methods. While he maintains its not that long ago he won PL I think football is now being dominated by more attacking dynamic teams.
@Nick Leone: so coming to the end of your second season is near 3 years ???? Pass the dutchie round will ya