Mourinho questions Man Utd’s medics over Herrera

Ian Watson

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho appeared to take a swipe at his medical staff after Ander Herrera sustained a “bad injury” on his return to action.

David De Gea grabbed the headlines against Sevilla after producing a string of fine saves that kept the hosts at bay as the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie ended 0-0 in Spain.

Paul Pogba had dominated the agenda before kick-off after being left on the bench, although just 17 minutes in Mourinho had to turn to the club-record signing.

Having missed the last three matches with a muscle issue, Herrera limped off and is now facing another spell on the sidelines as United’s medical team comes under scrutiny.

“I think it’s a bad injury,” Mourinho said.

“He had a small injury that stopped him for the last couple of matches, but the medical department gave him 100 per cent ready for the last Saturday (at Huddersfield in the FA Cup).

“We didn’t play him to give more work and more protection, but it looks like he was not fully fit.

“The medical department gave him fully fit. They gave him fully fit Saturday and he trained Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and he looked fit.

“The way he was playing during the time he was on the pitch, I think he showed that intensity that is only possible when you are fit.

“He was pressing really high, we start the match not giving one inch to (Ever) Banega, pressing him really high.

“Ander was one of them, Scott (McTominay) was the other one, and you only do that when you feel really good.

“Then the back-heel creates a contraction in the muscular area where he had a fitness problem, and now we have the proof that he was not 100 per cent fit.”

More from Planet Sport: The day Federer and Agassi played the coolest tennis match in history. (Tennis365)