Jose Mourinho was on the verge of getting sacked even before the match started. The match against Newcastle United was supposed to be his final thread of hope. However it almost seemed to be the final nail in the coffin for Mourinho as Newcastle scored twice in the first ten minutes of the match. However, it was Mourinho who turned the match around with bold substitutions and questionable tactics.
Kenedy and Yoshinori Muto struck early for Rafa Benitez. Ashley Young got caught out for the first goal as Kenedy went one-on-one with the defender before cutting onto his left foot and blasting low into the corner past David De Gea.
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Muto then bullied Bailly and Young in the box before powering past De Gea too. With 2-0 down Mourinho pulled out Bailly in the 19th minute to be replaced by Juan Mata who started the comeback with a peach of a free kick. He then withdrew Rashford to bring on Sanchez who scored the winner, with Martial scoring the equalizer.
Here’s what Mourinho had to say,” It was not the substitution. Its the mentality that won the match. It’s?not about me,?not about players,?its only about the club. The players gave everything”.
“Everyone panicked in the beginning, I?thought we would score an own goal.?Too much wickedness is there in this business, some of the boys cant cope. Rashford was sad on the pitch, McTominay was scared on the pitch”.?
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“The players do not play for the manager,?life is made of experiences some are new some are deja vu”,?said Mourinho.
He was also asked if the players are playing for him or the club, to which he replied – ”It’s?ridiculous talk. The players play only for the club. The club is bigger than everything and everyone.?We deserved to win,?the fans deserved to win.?I dont even like people to sing my name.?This makes me not just a better manager but a better person.”
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