Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is set to launch an internal investigation into how his team news got out to the public prematurely. This occurs regularly with Stretty News TV co-founder Jonathan Shrager tweeting the official team on match day.
Shrager had the team news early yet again on Saturday as United took on Chelsea in the Premier League.
#MUFC Starting XI versus Chelsea via a source
De Gea
Shaw
Smalling
Lindelof
Young
Pogba
Matic
Mata
Martial
Lukaku
Rashford— Jonathan Shrager (@JonathanShrager) October 20, 2018
However, Mourinho became angered after discovering his selected line-up to face Chelsea was accurately posted on social media. The manager now wants to know who is responsible for leaking such information.
You must wonder how many people within United are made aware of the starting eleven each week. Obviously, the team members and backroom staff, but anyone else?
Mourinho clearly believes it is an advantage to the opposition when team news gets out in the public domain and Juan Mata’s inclusion on Saturday would have come as a surprise to Maurizio Sarri.
United started the game below par but came back into the game after the interval in chaotic fashion.
Thanks to two goals from Anthony Martial, the Reds came from behind to lead 2-1 but a late equaliser from Chelsea substitute Ross Barkley saw both sides take one point from the game.
Next up for United is Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Mourinho will be keeping a close eye on social media to see if anyone gets the team news prematurely.
Meanwhile,it has become public knowledge that Jose Mourinho could be punished by the FA for the fracas at Stamford Bridge following Ross Barkley’s goal in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Saturday.
Mourinho was goaded by Chelsea coach Marco Ianni after Barkley’s late equaliser. He was seen jumping around in front of the Manchester United manager, with stewards forced to step in to stop Mourinho from having a go at the staff member.
Maurizio Sarri made sure Ianni apologised to Mourinho after the match in an attempt to put a stop to the drama, but the FA may decide to put fuel to the fire because Mike Dean included the incident in his post-match report.
The United boss is already in the FA’s bad books (when isn’t he?) for swearing in Portuguese at television cameras after the dramatic 3-2 victory over Newcastle at Old Trafford.