Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said football is “full of Einsteins” in a swift reply to criticism he has received following a poor run of form.
United ended a three-game losing streak as they beat Northampton Town 3-1 in the EFL Cup to set out a fourth-round clash against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Mourinho, who referenced Albert Einstein when in charge of Real Madrid, is quoted by the Manchester Evening News as telling MUTV: “We have three home matches now in a row and it is always good to be at home.
“I can understand clearly the disappointment. If the fans have been disappointed with the last week, I understand completely but I am sure they will be behind the team like they always are.
“We had a bad week. I know that the world is full of Einsteins, I know that they tried to delete 16 years of my career, they tried to delete an unbelievable history of Manchester United football club and to focus on a bad week with three bad results. But that’s the new football, it’s full of Einsteins.”
Mourinho’s side went in front at Northampton through Michael Carrick before Alex Revell’s penalty levelled the scoreline, but United hit back in the second half thanks to goals from Ander Herrera and Marcus Rashford.
United are next in action in the Premier League against champions Leicester City on Saturday lunchtime at Old Trafford. The Foxes crushed newly-promoted side Burnley, 3-0, in their game at the King Power Stadium last Saturday. A hard-fought game is expected between United and Leicester, but Ranieri’s squad is a slight favourite to win over the listless Red Devils.
The Portuguese boss was quite pleased to see some positive signs from his players as Manchester United ended a three-match losing streak and set up a mouth-watering EFL Cup clash with rivals Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s side condemned the Portuguese to his first competitive loss at the Old Trafford helm on 10 September, and that result was quickly compounded by losing at Feyenoord in the Europa League and defeat to Watford in the Premier League.
It meant Wednesday’s previously nondescript third-round trip to League One side Northampton took on increased importance, but United ensured there would be no humiliating early exit.
Not only was the ignominy of a fourth straight loss avoided, but the 3-1 win at Sixfields set up a shot at revenge against Guardiola’s City in the fourth round.