Mourinho blasts Sanchez, Lukaku, Martial, Pogba for United's defeat at Newcastle

macfranc007 February 12, 2018 IFTTT, Latest Sport News | Today on Naij.com Akan Anwankwo

- Jose Mourinho blames his attackers for missed chances that cost them the match at Newcastle

- The Manchester United manager also faults his midfielders for not defending properly the build-up that led to the goal

- Manchester City could win the league when they meet United in a derby at the Etihad on April 7, 2018

Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho has expressed dissatisfaction over his strikers firing blanks in the 0-1 defeat to Newcastle in a Premier League encounter.

United continue their seven-match winless streak at Saint James’ Park with all strikers in the front line wasting chances that cost the Red Devil’s three points at Tyneside.

Alexis Sanchez, Anthony Martial and Romelu Lukaku all missed scoring chances before Matt Ritchie scored the winner for the Magpies in the second half.

Mourinho said: “We could be here for ten hours and we wouldn’t score a goal — that’s the feeling.

“When you see the amount of chances we lost, starting in the first half when Anthony was facing the keeper.

“In the second half, we had Alexis with an open goal and then we had an accumulation of situations where it’s incredible that we didn’t score.”

Mourinho also blamed Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic saying they both failed to jump and stop Florian Lejeune heading on Jonjo Shelvey’s free-kick in the lead up to Ritchie’s goal.

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Mourinho added: “The free-kick was not even from a dangerous position. It was really far from the goal.

“The players know the positions they need to be in but we missed the challenge in the air.

“A defender has to concede free-kicks now and again. It was an intuitive thing. Players in the box deserve a card more than Smalling in that situation.”

Manchester City can now win the title against United when they meet in the derby at the Etihad on April 7, 2018, but only if both clubs are out of the FA Cup by then.

However, Rafa Benitez was full of praise of his players and clearly stated that the match was not about his rivalry with Mourinho but winning the match was his priority.

“I am not thinking about beating Mourinho, we needed to win. The way everybody gave everything was fantastic.” Benitez said.

United are now 16 points behind City as the race for the title could come to an end when both teams clash in April and Newcastle’s priceless win takes them a point above relegation.

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