Jose Mourinho takes swipe at lax stars after 'lucky' Bristol City dump Man United out of Carabao Cup

• e-mail

Jose Mourinho presided over one of Manchester United’s worst ever cup defeats before suggesting some members of his squad didn’t fancy travelling to Bristol City.

Korey Smith’s stoppage-time volley dumped United out of the Carabao Cup, with Bristol City facing Manchester City in next month’s semi-finals.

Mourinho’s plans were in disarray on Wednesday morning when United’s private plane had to be diverted to Cardiff because of the weather conditions around Bristol before their 2-1 humbling.

Bristol City celebrate after Korey Smith scored the winning goal with just seconds left

And to a cap a dreadful day, a number of supporters were restrained by police at full-time after a pitch invasion turned ugly, with punches thrown at the United end of the stadium on Wednesday.

‘It’s a big day for them and their supporters,’ Mourinho said after one of the greatest nights in Bristol City’s history.

‘For us it was just one more day in the office and some of them probably didn't want to come into the office.

Boss Lee Johnson runs down the touchline to celebrate his side's winning goal with a ball boy

‘They fought like this was the game of their lives which it probably was. It was a beautiful day for football.

‘I congratulate them. The main thing of it is that they won. [We] lacked the intensity that they had. Not just physically but mentally.’

Bristol City manager Lee Johnson - who flew down the touchline in celebration after Smith’s late winner - said his players will go down in folklore.

Joe Bryan had smashed the hosts into a 51st-minute lead before Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s equaliser. But Smith popped up to hammer a winner, sealing their biggest result since beating Liverpool at Anfield in an FA Cup third-round replay back in 1994.

Luke Shaw and his team-mates react after Bristol City scored to make it 2-1 on Wednesday

‘They were absolutely outstanding and to beat Manchester United is incredible,’ Johnson said. ‘I’m not just proud of the players’ personality but also their professionalism.

‘I'm chuffed to bits. It was unbelievable feeling: a turn of pace from me down the line that hadn't been seen in years. Those scenes will live in the memory of this football club for years.

‘It’s a young group full of quality and they got their rewards. They will go down in Bristol City folklore. At times tonight we looked like the Premier League side. I can’t be more proud of the group.’

Joe Bryan of Bristol City hammers the ball past Romero and into the Manchester United net

‘City is a brilliant draw. We've got to get over the overwhelming feeling of pride.’

Smith added: ‘I don't know what to say. Unbelievable. We played brilliantly like we have all season. I wasn't being tracked when I made the run forward.

‘I joined this club when we were in League One with three stands. We have been brilliant this season.’

United struck the post and Mourinho - who was swift in departing Ashton Gate - even claimed Johnson’s side were fortunate and refused to criticise his players.

‘My thoughts were that they were a bit lucky but they fought a lot to be lucky,’ he added. ‘They won the game in our best moment when everyone was waiting for our goal.

‘Normally when a team loses against a lower division it’s because the performance isn’t good. I studied their team, made my players aware of their quality.

‘They were lucky because we hit the post. I don’t want to criticise my team but praise Bristol. We didn’t want extra time, we wanted to win the game.

‘Luck comes from effort and belief. You need that extra motivation. They fought really hard and are a really good team.’