Jose Mourinho’s final words as Manchester United manager came at a press conference after the 3-1 humiliation at the hands of arch-rivals Liverpool on Sunday 16th December.
The Portuguese spoke to the media for more than nine minutes as he praised his players for giving ‘everything’. Mourinho also insisted that Romelu Lukaku didn’t have a bad game and bemoaned the injury problems at the club.
“I don’t think a football team is just a squad. It’s much, much more than the squad and I repeat: I’m really, really happy with the players that I had on the pitch, with their attitude, with their effort I’m more than happy.
“I’m more than happy. Because I’m more than happy, I assume the responsibility of the defeat and I want them to be hidden behind me. They gave me absolutely everything. Honest people who gave absolutely everything.
“Eric Bailly knows he plays one minute before the game. [Victor] Lindelof trained one day to play. [Diogo] Dalot trained one day to play. [Matteo]Darmian trained one day to play. Ashley Young played with a sore ankle and I could go on and on and on.
“I’m happy with the players’ commitment and the players’ attitude. I feel really sorry for them because I think their effort doesn’t deserve to lose the game in the way we did it.
“If we concede two goals in the first 20 minutes I would say OK the best team just killed us in the first 20 minutes. To lose the way they did I feel sorry for the boys.
