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
Jun 02, 2019 · 'This is only the start', says Jürgen Klopp after Liverpool's Champions League triumph - video Triumphant Liverpool come home to a sea of red after Champions League win.
'Only the start' - Klopp predicts more good times ahead for
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/06/01/only-the-start-klopp-predicts-more-good-times-ahead-for-liverpool/
'Only the start' - Klopp predicts more good times ahead for Liverpool AFP June 1, 2019 AFP No Comments Madrid (AFP) - A first trophy in seven years for Liverpool, and a first win in seven finals for Jurgen Klopp.
'This is only the start', says Jürgen Klopp after Liverpool's
Guardiola praised his side's battling qualities after the game, but also admitted that the absence of VAR cameras was a factor in Man City's goals. As quoted by The Sun, the City boss said: "If it was not a penalty and if our third goal was offside, then I am sorry. "But you have to ask the authorities why VAR is not here today.
sport news 'I am so sorry': Pep Guardiola apologises to
Football: Man City's Aguero in frame to face Brighton in FA Cup MANCHESTER, England (REUTERS) - Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will travel with the rest of their squad for their FA Cup semi-final against Brighton and Hove Albion having nearly recovered from a hamstring injury, manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday (April 5).
Man City's Aguero in frame to face Brighton in FA Cup
Football: Qatar players cleared in eligibility row just before Asian Cup final against four-time champs Japan. Qatar's players warming up ahead of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup final football match
Football: Qatar players cleared in eligibility row just
Solskjaer extends perfect record as Manchester United beat
Victory at Turf Moor at the start of a huge week for Pochettino and his men would have put the Premier League title race in their own hands. defeat to buoyant Burnley gives Liverpool added
Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham's dramatic Champions
GOLTV is a Soccer focused Cable network which serves both the English and Spanish speaking soccer fans in the United States. GolTV USA - Solskjaer aims to replicate spirit of '99 at Manchester United Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes to replicate the spirit of Manchester United's treble-winners at Old Trafford as he plots a route back to the top for
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Few of the 24 women's World Cup teams arriving in France for next month's tournament will bear the weight of expectation quite like reigning champions the United States. The
Soccer: Holders U.S. shrug off weight of World Cup expectations
London (AFP) - Aston Villa's Jack Grealish was punched by a pitch-invading Birmingham fan in a shocking incident during Sunday's Championship clash, but the midfielder had the last laugh as he scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 win over their bitter rivals.
Villa's Grealish has last laugh after Birmingham fan attack
BURNLEY 2 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 0 Burnley boost survival hopes with 2-0 win over Wolves. 3 Min Read BURNLEY 2 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 0 . Soccer Football - Premier League - Burnley v
Burnley boost survival hopes with 2-0 win over Wolves
Maurizio Sarri says he is not worried about Chelsea's looming transfer embargo, insisting he has confidence in his squad as he targets a top-four finish in the Premier League. The Stamford Bridge club, who host London rivals West Ham on Monday, are fifth in the table, level on 63 points with fourth-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand.
Chelsea can cope with transfer ban, says Sarri - punchng.com
Zinedine Zidane's second spell as coach of Real Madrid got underway as the Frenchman took his first session at the club's training ground. Zidane leads first session since return to Real Madrid.
Jurgen Klopp's men needed to overturn a three-goal deficit from the first leg to book their place in the Champions League final and they did just that and Emery will be wary of Valencia taking
Arsenal vs Valencia - Ramsey will not play for Arsenal again
0 comments:
Post a Comment