What could have been if Claudio Bravo’s second half challenge on Wayne Rooney was punished?
Similarly, what could have been if Manchester United came out with more focus in the first half?
Those are the questions that are plaguing United boss Jose Mourinho after he watched his side fall to a 2-1 defeat to arch-rivals Manchester City in Saturday’s early kick-off.
Mourinho is of the opinion that United were hard done by to be denied a spot kick when City’s goalkeeper challenged Rooney in the box with his studs showing.
“We are very disappointed with the result, but I am very disappointed with two decisions of Mark [Clattenburg],” Mourinho said.
“It was a penalty and a red card for Bravo. For sure outside the box it is a free kick and a red card. Inside the box it has to be the same, but obviously even the best referees make mistakes.”
Before a goalless second half, United were lucky to only trail by one as City dominated large portions of the opening 45 minutes.
Watching his players struggle to cope with the intensity of their opponents, Mourinho made two changes at the break as Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard were withdrawn and Ander Herrera and Marcus Rashford came on.
And the Portuguese was not shy in ridiculing United’s timid start to the game.
“I had two or three players in the first half that, if I know what is going to happen, I don’t play them,” Mourinho continued. “But this is football and sometimes players disappoint managers.
“It’s my fault because I’m the manager and it’s always my fault because it’s my choice.
“I think in the first half they were much better than us. We started the game bad, with some players really below their normal level in terms of their concentration.
“The second half was completely different. We were in control, we were much more dangerous and we had chances to equalise and who knows what would have happened.”
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