Mourinho: One player took us to ‘different levels’

Daniel Storey

Jose Mourinho has praised the performance of Ander Herrera in the 1-0 victory over Manchester City.

Juan Mata scored the only goal as Manchester United secured passage through to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, where they will face West Ham at Old Trafford. Some of our 16 Conclusions were dedicated to United’s win.

Speaking after the game, Mourinho singled out Herrera as the team’s best player, with the Spaniard impressing in a three-man midfield.

“I thought Ander brought the team to different levels of intensity and pressing,” the United manager told MUTV.

“Then we started recovering balls and being dangerous. Before the goal Pogba had a big chance.

“After the goal, Zlatan and Rashford had another big chance so we could have scored a second goal and killed the game.

“But I think it was better like this because it was a way for the players to go to the limit, to give everything, and for the fans to have that feeling.

“I know we have a game in two days and I know that the players had this this run of Liverpool, Fenerbahce, Chelsea, City all within two days in between. But I think the fans deserved this from us and I am really happy for them and for the players.”