‘It could have been 6-0’ moans Jose Mourinho after Manchester United held to 1-1 draw by struggling Stoke
Red Devils’ boss laments host of missed chances in what he claims was their ‘best performance of the season’
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Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said his side could have scored six goals after their “best performance all season” saw them held to a 1-1 draw by English Premier League strugglers Stoke City at Old Trafford on Sunday.
It looked as if substitute Anthony Martial’s 69th-minute goal would give United all three points against a Stoke side who started the day bottom of the table.
But a mistake by United goalkeeper David de Gea led to Joe Allen’s equaliser eight minutes from time, the point gained seeing Stoke leapfrog Sunderland.
United wasted numerous chances, with world-record signing Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic among the offenders as Stoke goalkeeper Lee Grant, on loan from Derby, made several fine saves.
“This is the best performance all season and could have been one of these fat results in the Premier League, it could have been 5-0 or 6-0,” Mourinho told BT Sport.
“We had big chances, with amazing saves and big misses.
“We chased the second goal and they go at the other end and score the goal and get a point.”
The Portuguese boss added: “You can sometimes have draws where what you do does nothing to change the result.
“The players and I did everything. I made changes, everyone was giving more and more but today we could be here all day without winning the game.
“We will play worse and win games ... we had 90 minutes of control, we had 90 minutes of ambition.
“We played really well and it was a good home performance and we created lots of chances.”
Meanwhile a delighted Grant said: “It’s a great day for me personally. More important is the point. It’s a much needed one.”
Stoke manager Mark Hughes added: “I’m really pleased with the performance.
“We had a game plan and we executed it to the letter. Joe Allen was absolutely immense for us.”
Turning to Grant’s display, former United striker Hughes said: “He’s a good keeper, a great character and we are pleased he is with us.”
United won their first three league games of the season but have slipped off the pace since losing the Manchester derby early last month.
Mourinho started Wayne Rooney, the club captain, from the bench for the second straight league game.
