Man Utd boss Mourinho launches thinly-veiled attack on Pogba and Lukaku

Both players were dropped to the bench for the 2-2 draw with Arsenal

Posted Thursday, December 06, 2018 by Thesun.co.uk

JOSE MOURINHO launched a thinly veiled dig at Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku — despite a gutsy draw with Arsenal.

United twice fought back to earn a point. But the Old Trafford boss took a swipe at his big-money superstars who he left on the bench.

In his programme notes, the Special One warned: “There isn’t space for people that are not ready to give their all.”

And afterwards, he praised the passion and desire of the team he picked although he suggested there was a lack of quality against Unai Emery’s Arsenal.

He said: “It was open because they scored the second goal. If not, it was not open.

“The second half was a clear tendency of one team waiting to see if they can wait and take a point, and another team increasing the pace and the intensity.

“We shoot ourselves so many times during the season, that is really, really difficult.

“But it was fantastic soul from the players and fantastic attitude from players with difficulties.

“Some good performances but players were in difficulty. Dalot the first start, Rojo the first minute, Darmian the third start, Bailly doesn’t play for a couple of months.

"Chris Smalling, a brave guy to play with such difficulties.

“So really difficult but they left what they have. When people speak about the quality.

“We should win the game, we made two big mistakes for their goals. We made other mistakes which allowed them to have counter-attacks.

“Easy passes that we lost, easy controls that we lost, things that at the highest level you normally don’t do.

“And performances are marked by these ups and downs.

“The second goal comes in an awful moment for a team which at that moment was at the top of their game.

“There are things which I cannot get from them and I cannot say much more than that. Everyone gives everything, that’s for sure, and that is a positive feeling

“I cannot tell you much more. I prefer to say that I am happy with the soul, the commitment, the bravery, I am really happy with that.”