JOSE MOURINHO WAS pleased, despite watching Manchester United suffer a 1-0 defeat to Barcelona, describing the International Champions Cup loss as “very important”.
United’s flawless pre-season came to an end on Wednesday, beaten by a first-half strike from Neymar in Landover, Maryland.
Mourinho’s men were outclassed for large periods of the match as they were condemned to their first loss in the United States but the Portuguese boss was happy post-match at FedEx Field.
“It’s very important to lose a match in pre-season. You don’t like to lose but I think it’s very important,” Mourinho told MUTV.
“I think it would be very bad for us to leave the US without a defeat, playing against teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, it would be very bad to go home with just victories. So the defeat is good.
“But I think in the game we did some very good things and we did bad things. The very good things are to keep and the bad things are to improve.
“I am very happy. There are no injuries because with Juan Mata and Ander Herrera at this moment, I don’t think we are talking about injuries. They will be back to training I think next Saturday, no problem to be back to training, so no injuries, a fantastic atmosphere, a fantastic work ethic, great organisation. So now we just need to land safely in Manchester and this part of the pre-season was perfect.”
United made eight changes to the team that beat Real Madrid on penalties last time out, though they were virtually at full strength, with David de Gea, Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford and Victor Lindelof in the line-up.
However, the Premier League giants struggled after a promising start, with De Gea’s exploits ensuring United only trailed 1-0 at half-time.
“The first half was 1-0 but it could have been 2-2, 3-3 or 4-0. In the second half, there were lots of changes but both teams were playing for a result, despite it being a friendly, when the result is not the most important thing. We tried to equalise, they kept the ball and possession, and defended well. Even in the second half, the match was positive,” Mourinho continued.
Mourinho added: “The attitude was good and in the second half we defended much better.
“I know that it is one thing to defend against Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, another thing is to defend against three good players but not three of the best players in the world. But we were much more confident, we pushed the line-up - Phil Jones and Eric Bailly pressed really high – we brought the game to their side. We arrived into dangerous positions and we could have scored.”
Jose out
If it was just a mundane preseason game you could dismiss it, but the fact a lot of United fans have been harping on about this competition as being a big competition says how serious they were taking it
@Jamie: I seriously doubt anybody on the planet called it a big competition. link us to these comments or you are lying.
@Brian: believe it or not Brian I actually talk to people in the real world.I have plenty of friends and work colleagues that I enjoy “chatting” to about United and they’ve been saying it.Unfortunately for you I don’t take notes of these conversations
@Jamie: either that’s the biggest made up lie I’ve seen on here or you are meeting these people in your mental therapist’s waiting room. the fact you know plenty of people saying that is very worrying.
@Jamie: where did you see anyone say this was a big competition? Just curious
@Terence Martin: she’s the worst internet troll ever she crumbles under any questioning and The worst part is she’s not funny or witty in the slightest. at least give us a laugh Jamie.
@Brian: it’s name is Alan and I muted it yesterday.
@Jamie: you have friends when did that happen. And if its actually true do they know you come on here every day and post Iike a ten year old
@Brian: it was all about the real pre season competition that Villa won. The cup of traditions.
@Terence Martin: Bi -curious?
@Jamie:
@Jamie: obsessed
It’s certainly not a bad thing to lose a pre-season game but if he’s gonna put that spin on it he could choose better words to communicate that point. It’s hardly “very important” to lose or “very bad” to go through pre-season undefeated.
De Gea was unbelievable. That Jersey is absolute w@nk.
@Nollaig Elliot: I’d say he’s delighted he wont want to wear it for much longer
@Jamie: what do you know that we don’t?
@Jamie: obsessed.
What a spoofer. Had they won or drew he would have said “it’s great to go undefeated”. Everybody knows nobody gives a rats about pre season games especially the players.
@Brian: it’s a cup if they had to have won it they’d be harping on about it just like the charity shield
@Jamie: to be honest from reaction I’ve seen online and offline United fans didn’t give a rats about beating city or Madrid nor did Liverpool or arsenal fans care about their wins. are you on a different planet?
@Jamie: obsessed..
That’s the worst United kit I’ve ever seen. Even the 6-3 grey one from 95 had a bit going on.
The greatest Spinmaster since Fr. Billy O’ Dwyer
The PIG continues his piggyness. Barcelonas kit is sexual !
@The Jacket: so is your Ma’s !
@Hoof Hearted: im reporting you !