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| Jose Mourinho congratulates his former players after Man United beat his Spurs team 2-1 on Wednesday at Old Trafford |
Jose Mourinho conceded his former club Manchester United had deserved their 2-1 Premier League victory over his new team Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday and hailed the performance of Marcus Rashford.
Mourinho took over as Spurs manager last month, nearly a year after he was fired by United.
โI think they deserved the victory by their first half. We didnโt start well at all,โ said Mourinho, whose side fell behind to a seventh-minute goal from Rashford.
โI think for the first 30 minutes they were the best team, and I think because of that, for this strong 30 minutes where we were not there, and also because of the way we conceded the second goal, I think they deserved to win,โ he added.
Mourinho noted that Ole Gunnar Solskjaerโs side, held by Aston Villa and Sheffield United in their last two league games, had delivered their best displays against the top-rated teams.
โUnited results against the best teams this season have been good. Chelsea, Liverpool, Leicester,โ he said.
โFor the way they play it is easier for them. They are not afraid to have a defensive approach. It is easier for them against better teams, against teams who want more of the ball,โ he added.
The Portuguese, sacked by United after two and a half seasons in charge, had plenty of praise for his former forward Rashford.
โWhen he plays from the left he is really dangerous and I knew that and gave the players the best information about it. His first goal is a typical Rashford goal coming on the inside. Our boys knew that clearly,โ he said.
Solskjaer was unsurprisingly even more fulsome in his praise of the 22-year-old England international, who delivered a performance of real quality.
โItโs the best heโs had under me. He was mature, strong against good Premier League players,โ the Norwegian said.
โItโs like he was back on the playground or in the back garden. We want them to have fun, thereโs nothing dangerous out there โ just 75,00 people, wanting to see the best,โ he said.
With some questioning Solskjaer after the clubโs worst start to a season since 1988-89, the win which moved United up to sixth, was a major boost.
โThe three points are massive for us. Weโve had too many draws this season and given too many points away from winning positions,โ Solskjaer said.
โWeโve made decisions that we had to and weโre looking to build this club to be better again and I canโt think short-term when Iโm trying to do that,โ he said.
โWhen we turn the corner and win three or four games on the run, they will get that Man United feeling again.โ
REUTERS
