Mourinho's verdict on Stamford Bridge defeat

Mourinho's verdict on Stamford Bridge defeat

Jose Mourinho picked out some of the positives from Manchester United’s Premier League defeat against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds suffered only a second loss of the season so far in all competitions as Alvaro Morata’s header separated the sides at Stamford Bridge in the final Premier League game before the ensuing international break.

HOW THE GAME WENT
“I think they scored in the only period they were on top in the game but apart from, that the game was even. The game was controlled by us and the game was controlled by them. We had chances and they had chances and with the first goal they found themselves winning and were able to bring more people to defend but, even so, knowing they can defend with a lot of people. We had a go, we tried to change the direction of our game. We created chances to equalise but we couldn’t.”

COULD WE HAVE DEFENDED BETTER FOR CHELSEA'S GOAL?
“Yes, especially because we spoke during the preparation of the match and we spoke again at half-time. We knew the crosses from the middle positions, crosses from the inside, not crosses from the goalline and we know the movement of the strikers, sometimes in front of the defenders, sometimes behind, so that’s exactly what we were speaking [about] in the dressing room. The first team to score in these games normally wins. We conceded a goal in a situation where we should be in control.” 



HE BIGGER PICTURE
“We are second - not fifth, sixth or seventh or eighth. We have 18 teams in a more difficult position than we have. Eight points is eight points. We went through a very difficult phase with probably the most important matches against Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea without important players. I don’t like to speak [about injuries] and it’s not after a defeat that I’m going to speak but it’s obvious that we went through a difficult phase with limitations.”