Jose Mourinho’s extraordinary post-match comments haven’t gone down well with Chelsea fans as the Manchester United manager has defiantly stated that the Blues did not deserve their FA Cup triumph over the Red Devils on Saturday.
“I congratulate them because they won but I don’t think they deserved to win. I congratulate (them) because I am a sportsman and they scored one more goal than us and they get the Cup”, a visibly disappointed Mourinho told BT Sport after the tie in the English capital.
Eden Hazard’s 22nd-minute penalty was the difference on the night as the Blues held on for a 1-0 win at Wembley Stadium to ensure United ended the 2017-18 season without a single trophy.
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“I think I have to do what my job requires me to do – I am the Manchester United manager and I must be respectful, not just because they (Chelsea) were my previous club but because they are the opponent that won the Cup.”
The Red Devils were dominant, particularly in the second-half, but failed to make the most of the chances that fell their way as Mourinho’s bitter rival–Antonio Conte–lifted his second major trophy in as many years with the Blues.
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But I think we deserved to win, we were the better team but that’s football. It’s disappointing. We were the second best team in the Premier League and we were the second best team in the FA Cup, although I think we were the best (in that competition),” the Portuguese tactician added.
Chelsea custodian Thibaut Courtois was, arguably, busier than his United counterpart–David de Gea–for most parts of the tie but without top scorer Romelu Lukaku, the Red Devils struggled to find the back of the net and paid the price.