Jose praises Rojo after second horror tackle

Matt Stead

Jose Mourinho chose to praise Marcos Rojo when asked about the Manchester United defender’s second horror tackle in the space of a week.

United claimed a much-needed 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday, securing first consecutive Premier League wins since August in the process.

Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the goals at Selhurst Park, with James McArthur striking for the hosts.

But Rojo’s first-half tackle on Wilfried Zaha was a negative point of the evening for the Red Devils.

The Argentinean launched into a two-footed lunge on the former United winger as he dribbled through, which came just a week after a similar challenge Rojo attempted on Idrissa Gueye against Everton.

Rojo was booked for the tackle on Zaha, and Mourinho chose to praise his defender when asked about the incident after the game.

“Rojo’s playing phenomenal, Phil Jones is playing phenomenal,” he said.

“I didn’t discuss Danny Rose’s tackle. I didn’t discuss David Luiz’s tackle. I’m not going to discuss Marcos Rojo’s tackle.

“He’s an aggressive, clean player playing probably the best football of his career.”