A goal and an assist from Nemanja Matic gave Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United a comfortable 2-0 win over Brighton and a ticket to the semifinal of FA Cup.
Coming into the game on the back of a blazing rant following the Champions League exit, a fine performance against the 12th-place Premier League side was expected but a rather contrasting performance was delivered at Old Trafford. A 2-0 win might sound like a convincing one but the showing rather remained an underwhelming one.
However, ‘a win is a win no matter how or by how many’ and Manchester United faithful have somehow been living with the phrase since the turn of the year. But a victory against the Seagulls now gives Manchester United a hope of winning at least one trophy this season.
Besides this win, questions were raised over the half-time substitution of left-back Luke Shaw. Despite the defender playing a bit-part role in United’s opener, he was taken off at half-time and when quipped about the same, Mourinho simply said that he wasn’t convinced by the effort that the 22-year-old was putting in.
Mourinho was quoted by Manchester Evening News as saying:
“Every time they went in his [Shaw] corridor the cross was coming and the dangerous situation was coming, so I was not happy with the performance.”
As far as the fans are concerned, they sure were happy with the result but didn’t seem convinced with the way their players performed. This is how they reacted:
Mourinho needs to go if Man Utd want to become a Great Team again! Mourinho plays boring football in big games & instead of using Shaw, Fosu-Mensah, Tuanzebe & Pereira, he uses Young on LB, Darmian, Lindelof & Fellaini. He can’t get the best out of Pogba, Martial or Shaw. #MUFC
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@CristianoMUFC) March 17, 2018
When Feliani gets substituted before Alexis or Pogba. He must have nudes off Mrs Mourinho or something.
— John Kilminster (@JohnKilminsterR) March 17, 2018
That performance was pic.twitter.com/dugcThyAZ0
— Isak Pettersson (@IsakIPMusic) March 17, 2018
Well thank fuck that’s over. Reminded me of our fa cup game vs Sheffield United few years back when we cheered Memphis for taking a shot
— David De Gilmore (@_RealisticOne) March 17, 2018
Jose Mourinho has single handedly destroyed Luke Shaw.
Not a single Utd player has improved under Mourinho… Plenty have regressed or stood still, but his agenda against Shaw is ridiculous!— Mateus #JoseOut (@creely_matthew) March 17, 2018
Luke Shaw. The end.
— Tom McDermott (@MrTomMcDermott) March 17, 2018
Luke Shaw off for Ashley Young at half time. If Shaw isn’t injured, it’s an absolute joke. Luke Shaw bombing up that left hand side was a joy to watch in that first half. Confidence killer.
— The Man Utd Way (@TheManUtdWay) March 17, 2018
Feel for Shaw, confidence low, gets a chance doesn’t take it and the manager character assainates him in front of millions, pathetic by Jose.
— DaveShel (@daveshel13) March 17, 2018
That’s not what a clever man would say about a player he would like to get rid of. :/
— nthcolumn (@nthcolumn) March 18, 2018
Love his man management 😂
— Eddie Togher (@nybluemoon) March 18, 2018
Shaw has had plenty of chances I wasn’t even sure if he still played for us😏
— Brian Nicholas (@BrianNi26672301) March 17, 2018
Jose Mourinho got rid of De Bruyne, Man City made him fearsome. He didn’t think much of Lukaku, but went back for him years after others had fine-tuned him. Did not think much of Mo Sallah, see what the Egyptian has become a few seasons later. Mourinho is a shame!