Jose Mourinho aims 'amazing' dig at Liverpool as he insists Manchester United's tactics are not 'a crime'

Jose Mourinho mounted a fresh defence of his football tactics after Manchester United's 1-0 Champions League win at Benfica.

United went into Wendesday night's match under pressure to perform following a goalless draw at Liverpool last weekend, with Jurgen Klopp criticising Mourinho's tactics after the Red Devils sat deep for a point at Anfield.

Mourinho's men again failed to inspire for long periods against Benfica, with the only goal of the night coming as Benfica's Mile Svilar, the competition's youngest-ever goalkeeper, carried a Marcus Rashford free-kick over his own line.

But speaking to BT Sport after a match which leaves United on the brink of the knockout stages, Mourinho defended his methods: "We were in control, David De Gea did not have one save to make. I never felt we could concede a goal and were solid defensively.

"Sometime I feel being good defensively is a crime, but that is a way of getting results.

"We are one point from qualifying and one victory away from winning the group with two games at home to play. A good game, solid."

Another tactical approach paid off for Mourinho on the night, with Svilar's error to decide the match coming after the manager advised his players to target the young keeper from situations just like Rashford found himself in.

"I knew how good the goalkeeper was, I told the players that," he said. "We had a little bit of a strategy, especially on set-pieces to make him uncomfortable.

"We put men around him on corners so he cannot come out. He risks a lot, but only top keepers do that. He was unlucky for the goal."

"We knew the Benfica pressure could not stay for 90 minutes. The amazing defensive work Liverpool did against us, Benfica could not do that for the whole game.

"Without any pressure, we knew the goal would arrive. We forced a little more and with quality and sharpness we could have killed the game more."