Champions League heartache nothing new for Manchester United, insists Jose Mourinho
- by Grant Boone
- in Sports
- — Mar 15, 2018
"Some things were flawed with some players, some players were hiding", the forward, 24, said. While what he has done since have produced mixed results (two more league titles with Real Madrid and Chelsea but undignified exits from both clubs), I've always regarded him as one of football's greatest serial winners.
"I sat in this chair twice in the Champions League", Mourinho said.
"I don't want to make a drama out of it, we don't have time for that". Joaquin Correa produced a superb far post cross to Ben Yedder, whose header on goal De Gea flapped at before the ball went over the line despite the Spaniard's best efforts.
"I think the intention; the way we started was really good and really positive".
Club president Jose Castro was overjoyed after the win over a United side full of internationals including Chile's Alexis Sanchez and their record signing Paul Pogba of France.
Two late goals from Sevilla sub Wissam Ben Yedder saw the Red Devils crash out of the competition at the last-16 stage on home turf, leaving the FA Cup as their only realistic chance of silverware this term. He is a good player when he plays at the conventional No. 10 position but whenever he drops into the midfield, his performance dips.
"We should have done much better today because, with the quality that we have in the team, I think we should have gone through".
"I don't have regrets", Mourinho said. Even a last-ditch lunge from Eric Bailly - United's saviour on at least two occasions - could not save them this time.
In the other match, Edin Dzeko found the breakthrough goal in the second half as Roma advance to the Champions League quarterfinals on away goals against Shakhtar Donetsk. We had a few half chances but we didn't score and then they scored the first goal and tried to chase the game. However, tonight we were very effective and it was a totally different style of play and I'm happy we managed to turn things around.
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Nothing about the performances of the Premier League champions-elect, with a 16 point lead over United and awaiting Friday's quarter-final draw in the Champions League, suggests they are going to lose their appetite for winning anytime soon.
And, as United stare down the barrel of the fallout from their elimination to Sevilla, the need to keep De Gea away from Madrid's clutches is likely to be every bit as important as making outfield additions as they look to plan for a more successful season ahead in 2018-19.
