After a frustrating afternoon at Stoke City, Jose Mourinho spoke out to express what a difficult day it had been for Manchester United. Two goals were not enough for the Red Devils, who were denied by a brace from Jean Eric Maxim Choupo Moting. Mourinho said to the club website:
“It was a difficult match for different reasons. My players, after the international break, are not the same. They weren’t performing at their normal level but we were in the game, we fought hard and we were closer to winning than losing. Stoke are big, strong and powerful in the air. They fought hard and probably deserved a point. It is not what we came for but a point is a point. The performance was more than enough for the point and enough for the three points.”
The Portuguese manager was involved in some heated moments on the touchline with former United midfielder Mark Hughes. His decision to give Ander Herrera a return to the side proved to be a mistake, with the Spaniard’s return coinciding with the first points dropped of the season.
After a bright start to the campaign, some have discussed the possibility that United may be in the contention for the Premier League title. They will only be encouraged by reports from the Mirror, who say that the club could launch a £92 million bid for Arsenal target and Monaco star Thomas Lemar.
The French international was a target for both the Gunners and Liverpool just before the transfer deadline, but he may now be a candidate for the winger that Jose Mourinho wants to add to his squad. The 21-year-old’s fine form for the Ligue Un champions would suggest that he could be a superb addition.
However, it seems unlikely that such a move could be pulled off alongside a £100 million summer swoop for Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann, as the Daily Star suggest. They go as far to say that the club has not given any player the squad number seven to keep it free for the arrival of the Frenchman.
Griezmann was linked with a move to Old Trafford in the summer but with Atletico Madrid under a transfer ban, he instead opted to sign a new deal for his current club. Now, he could make the move 12 months later than was originally suggested and join ahead of the 2018/19 season.