Manager Jose Mourinho’s pre-match message of embracing the occasion of playing in front of a packed Old Trafford crowd inspired Manchester United to a 4-1 rout of Premier League champions Leicester City, defender Chris Smalling has said.
Advertisement
After back-to-back Premier League defeats by Manchester City and Watford, United were under pressure from their fans and returned to winning ways with Smalling beginning the rout of the champions with a first half header.
Jose Mourinho’s words inspired his side to a thrilling 4-1 win over Leicester City last weekend. Photo: EPA
“The boss really wanted to get the enjoyment factor across,” Smalling told the club’s website. “He stressed how there is 70-odd thousand people in the stands who want to be in our shoes and in his shoes.
“It’s a case of realising how lucky we are and how we should go out there and enjoy it. You can see that everyone did enjoy it and the message clearly did get across.”
Advertisement
The victory moved United to sixth in the table with 12 points from six games and released the pressure on the club and Mourinho, though his decision to relegate England captain Wayne Rooney to the bench created more speculation.
Smalling scored the opening goal against Leicester City. Photo: EPA
