VALENCIA • It was not a Wednesday evening that Jose Mourinho, Phil Jones or Paul Pogba will remember fondly.
Manchester United had the chance to win their Champions League group, but they failed.
Pogba had the opportunity to prove his worth to Mourinho, but he failed. The less said about Jones, the better.
The Red Devils had qualified for the round of 16 before they set foot in Spain but, with Juventus falling to a surprise 2-1 defeat away to Young Boys, victory in Valencia would have been enough for United to seal top spot in Group H.
But they were beaten 2-1, a result owing to their miserable performance and a dispirited Mourinho said after the match that "nothing surprised" him.
"I didn't learn anything at all," the United manager said of his players, after he fielded a line-up that included eight changes and a return for Pogba, who delivered a sluggish display at the Mestalla.
"Nothing surprised me at all... I expect more from my players, especially players that week in, week out, they (the media) ask why they don't play, why they don't start. It was a good match to play, without any kind of pressure, in a competition everyone likes to play in.
"And, in the end, my team improved (only) when I made changes I didn't want to make, which is frustrating because I didn't want to play the three players that I played in the second half.
"Before the game, I told the players, if we win tonight and Juventus win, we did our job; if we don't win and Juventus doesn't win, we can blame ourselves."
Marcus Rashford, who scored United's goal, Jesse Lingard and Ashley Young were all introduced in the second half.
Finishing first in the group would have earned them a relatively easier tie against one of Atletico Madrid, Roma, Schalke, Ajax and Lyon when the last-16 draw takes place on Monday. They would also avoid the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
Despite his disappointment, Mourinho insisted that qualification was what really mattered.
"I think to qualify in this group is a success, never a failure. To finish second in this group is always a success," the Portuguese added.
"Apart from a couple of clubs that are clearly much better than the others, I don't think the (last-16) draw will be significantly different."
Â
1 - Phil Jones is the first Manchester United player to score an own goal in the Champions League since Phil Jones in November 2011 against Benfica.
3 - Manchester United progressed to the knockout stages with three wins in the group for the first time since 2008-09, when they won two. That season, they lost in the final to Barcelona.
Jones scored an own goal just after the break to double Valencia's lead after Carlos Soler had put the home side ahead in the 17th minute.
Rashford gave United hope with an 87th-minute header but it proved too little, too late.
Mourinho explained that injuries forced him to make eight changes to the team that beat Fulham on Saturday. Only David de Gea and Nemanja Matic were rested.
BEWILDERED
I didn't learn anything at all... I expect more from my players, especially players that week in, week out, they (media) ask why they don't play.
'' JOSE MOURINHO, who was left unimpressed by his players.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS, THE TIMES, LONDON
Signs of Manchester United revival in loss to City: Wes Brown City were denied a second by a superb goal-line clearance from Ben Mee, who stretched to clear off the line after substitute Gabriel
Wes Brown recognises Ferguson fingerprints at Manchester
Guardiola expects more twist in Premier League title race. Chelsea or even fifth-placed Manchester United in the title race. Spurs are two points behind City, in third, and five points off the
Guardiola expects more twists in title race - rte.ie
England's Harry Kane celebrates scoring their 4th goal with Raheem Sterling, Ross Barkley and Jordan Henderson. (Reuters pic) PODGORICA: England recovered from an early scare in Montenegro as
England thrash Montenegro 5-1 after early scare - CNA
Sports Champions League: Leroy Sané haunts Schalke as City stage late comeback. Two late goals have handed Manchester City a 3-2 win over Schalke in the Champions League Round of 16.
Messi notches 50th career hat-trick as La Liga leaders Barcelona twice come from behind to beat Sevilla The Argentine loves to score against Sevilla as he has already netted 36 goals in 35 games
Lionel Messi All 253 Goals in La Liga New Record HD - YouTube
Alexis Sanchez came back to haunt Arsenal as the Chilean opened the scoring in Manchester United's 3-1 FA Cup fourth-round win on Friday to maintain Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's 100 percent record as caretaker manager. United's winning run under the Norwegian is now eight games in all competitions and his decision to make five changes was […]
Sanchez haunts Arsenal as Man Utd keep perfect record
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) After getting a rare victory, the Detroit Lions are eager to celebrate some more success. And, they'll have a chance to do it at home. Detroit (2-7) will face the Oakland
Lions hungry to keep winning after earning rare victory | Fox
Martial and Lingard both limped off during the 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday and are set to miss the FA Cup fifth round tie with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
Jose Mourinho has set a deadline of June to return to management after turning down four offers following his dismissal by Manchester United. The 56-year-old has been out of work since losing his
Jose Mourinho rejects big offers to become new manager of 1
Hugo Lloris saved Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 90th-minute penalty as a below-par Tottenham Hotspur salvaged what could be a crucial 1-1 draw in a scrappy north London derby against Arsenal on Saturday. Tottenham had trailed to Aaron Ramsey's 16th-minute goal and were offering little as a third
Kane, Lloris rescue point for Spurs against Arsenal
Pundits have already written off their chances, with former Gunner Martin Keown claiming there was "a hell of a lot of work to do". He told BT Sport: "Arsenal are in the beginning of their (project)."
Transfer news: 'Arsenal need to spend £70m on a Van Dijk
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen