Jose Mourinho dug out Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly for their lack of ‘technical ability’ after Manchester United’s 0-0 draw with Valencia. The Red Devils were well below-par as they continued their run without a win to four matches and they haven’t won at Old Trafford since the first day of the season. United’s commitment levels were certainly better than what they showed in the 3-1 defeat against West Ham on Saturday but Mourinho’s side were clearly nervous on the ball. Questioned on his side’s performance, Mourinho took a rather unncessary swipe at Smalling and Bailly, suggesting that their lack of ability on the ball made it hard to build attacks.
‘They tried,’ said Mourinho, when asked about his team’s performance. ‘They raised the level of their effort, they raised the level of their intensity in spite of not having that many players with that intensity. ‘We tried to play but in some crucial positions in the building up phase we don’t have the technical quality to build from the back. ‘We tried at least to do something that we did well which was to stop a very creative, fast team on the counter attack and we did that well. We knew we wouldn’t create 20 chances we know that our attacking players are not also in their best moment of confidence and individual performance level. We thought with 3 or 4 chances we would win the game but we didn’t.’
Mourinho was furious that the club failed to sign a centre-back last summer and was desperate to sign one of Toby Alderweireld or Harry Maguire. The United boss recently claimed his side can’t attack in the same fashion as Manchester City or Liverpool because they don’t have the same defensive solidity. ‘It’s a process that has risks especially if you make the defensive mistakes that breaks that dynamic. ‘The teams that are really, really good offensively are the teams that are very, very solid from the back.’
The United manager had been heavily criticised for an uninspiring start to the season and is under pressure to turn around a poor run. The lack of ambition from the Red Devils was evident in their 3-1 defeat against West Ham – who had not won at home until Saturday – where they started with five at the back, including Scott McTominay in central defence.
Mourinho’s relationship with Paul Pogba has seen the pair’s communication break down and the World Cup winner’s performances on the pitch have taken a hit. Mourinho recently made an example of the French international, telling him in front of the whole squad that he was not longer Manchester United’s second captain, but Carragher revealed on Monday Night Football that this is something he vowed to stop after he left Chelsea.
“I had a conversation with Mourinho when he left Chelsea,” explained Carragher. ”He said he learned you couldn’t single out a player because they players don’t accept this now. He’s gone back to that. The players don’t want that now, and that’s why he’s lost the dressing room.