Jose Mourinho on Manchester United’s defeat to Derby County: Top five quotes

Jose Mourinho opted against holding a press conference after Manchester United’s shock EFL Cup defeat to Derby County, but he did speak to some sections of the media.

The decision to leave out Paul Pogba from the matchday squad, and subsequent confirmation that he would no longer be the club’s second captain , overshadowed much of the game – as Derby boss Frank Lampard got one over his former manager.

Interviewed by Sky Sports, who broadcasted the match, and United’s official website and TV station, the Manchester United boss offered his thoughts on that defeat at Old Trafford.

Here is our pick of what he had to say…

Mourinho on Paul Pogba…

“The only truth is that I made the decision for Paul not to be the second captain anymore,” he told Sky Sports.

“It was exactly the same person who decided Paul was the second captain.

“No fall-out at all, just decisions I do not have to explain.”

Mourinho would later address the situation further in a separate interview with the club’s official website.

“I made the decision for Paul not to be the second captain anymore, but there is no fall-out, no problems at all. The same person that decides that Paul is not the second captain anymore was exactly the same person that decides that Paul was the second captain - myself. I am the manager, I can make these decisions. No fall-out at all, no problems at all. Just one decision that I don't have to explain.”

Mourinho on wasting chances against Derby...

“You know it happened that we didn’t score when we could and we could in the first half to kill it. We didn’t.

“At half-time I repeated the words I said in the last match. Their dressing room is a dressing room with belief and we need to go and kill the game which we didn’t.”

“We couldn’t be dominant in the second half and only after their equaliser we get a reaction, which I don’t like. I prefer to go for it, but we only go for it after the 1-1.

Mourinho on United’s need to kill off opposition...

Speaking to MUTV he said: “I was commenting with Michael [Carrick] and Kieran [McKenna] on the bench. We went in the first half 40 minutes without scoring a goal and then in the second half they started better than us.

“Immediately after they equalised we were on top of it, we started creating again, we were dangerous and why, after the 1-1, and then why after the 2-1, even with one man less, I think we need to educate ourselves to being mentally stronger.”

Mourinho on Sergio Romero’s red card...

“After the red card we are in difficulty, but even after that we have a group that tried until the last second and then the penalties, somebody has to miss,” he told Sky Sports.

“Going after the sixth and seventh, I knew we would be in trouble with Jones and Eric (Bailly)

“You say I criticise, I don’t.

“You want me to say we play a phenomenal match? The truth is the opponent in the second half started better than us, we responded at 1-1.”

Mourinho on Derby County’s game plan...

“We are playing against good teams with good young players, with speed, with intensity, they give great intensity to the game,” he told the club’s official website.

“They wanted to press, they pressed for every goal and we need to respect, we need to match that mentality. I'm obviously sad with going out, but we didn't lose the match, which I think is important for us and the penalty shootout is always what we know.”

Up next...

Manchester United’s next match sees them travel to London to face West Ham on Saturday, with Manuel Pellegrini’s side having ended their run of defeats with victory over Everton and a point against Chelsea last time out.