Jose Mourinho has lashed out at Manchester United fans for criticizing his selection prior to the kick-off Tuesday's Champions League clash with Young Boys. Despite Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku being available, the ex-Chelsea manager opted to start with Marcus Rashford in No 9 and Fred in midfield.
The latter, who lost his spot in the starting XI after a series of below-par performances, lined up alongside Marouane Fellaini and Nemanja Matic in a midfield trident. At the back, Jose recalled Antonio Valencia and Phil Jones while overlooking Diogo Dalot and Eric Bailly.
The former was expected to be given a run out after he impressed in the first leg's 3-0 over Young Boys. Alexis Sanchez was also left on the bench with Mourinho preferring Jesse Lingard over the Chilean winger.
Following the announcement of the lineup, some fans of Manchester United voiced their discontentment with the personnel called upon by the Portuguese manager. However, the Red Devils' manager insisted that they "cannot complain" about his choices.
Who needs Bailly when you've got Jones. Who needs Pogba when you've got Fellaini. Who needs Sanchez when you've got Lingard. Who needs a decent manager when you've got Mourinho.
— Keith Russell (@Keith_Russell) November 27, 2018
It's pretty sad to see how far out of favour Eric Bailly is with José Mourinho. Really hope Manchester United don't sell. Would be such an idiotic move.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) November 27, 2018
Perfect game to give Sanchez and a start for some confidence tonight and he's not even in the squad....Another top flair player Mourinho has ruined
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) November 27, 2018
On the bench for United tonight are Mourinho's two biggest signings and his first signing. Not exactly helping his case when he sits down to discuss January transfer plans with Woodward #mufc
— James Robson (@jamesrobsonES) November 27, 2018
"The team we are going to play is a team where I am going to try to have that happiness to cope with that little pressure that I'm going to try to add. That little pressure to the players, that is not a real pressure.
"They are always asking for Rashford to play, so you cannot complain that Rashford is playing as a number nine," Mourinho told BT Sport ahead of Tuesday's game.
"And people like Fred, they play, so you cannot complain that Fred is playing. So fresh blood, fresh legs, people that did not play in the last match two days ago.
"I always think that to play after two days is never so easy. I try to keep a certain stability in the team, but with fresh people and the three attacking players are Lingard, Rashford and Martial. All of them young, all of them fast, all of them are supposedly fresh, so that's the way we go.
"The last performance at home was a frustrating game without goals and the objective tonight is to try and win against a team that is not easy. [They] only [have] one point, but good matches, good quality, very competitive even in the results against Valencia. I think they change the way they play. I think they're going to play much more defensive than they used to. So I think it is going to always be difficult."
Manchester United could progress on Tuesday should it win against Young Boys and should Valencia get a win against Juventus in Turin.