Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho aims possible dig at Phil Jones after Stoke City draw

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho appeared to single out Phil Jones for his poor performance in the 2-2 draw against Stoke City this evening.

The Red Devils dropped their first points of the season against the Potters, despite taking a 2-1 lead in the second half of a game Mourinho feels they dominated.

The Portuguese was critical of Stoke’s defensive approach as well, but was particularly unhappy at United’s failure to defend the corner from which Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored the equaliser.

Jones was at fault for the goal, leading Mourinho to say some players weren’t at their usual level after returning from the international break.

‘(It was a) difficult match for different reasons,’ he told BT Sport afterwards. ‘The opponent is difficult, the stadium is difficult. After the international break we’re not the same. It’s easy to see some players were not performing at their normal level.

‘We fought hard and were closer to winning than losing. A point is a point, it not what we came for, but a point is a point.

‘We didn’t have time (to close the game). Finally the opponent opened a bit … After a few minutes they scored their goal, which I’m not happy with especially, because after a great save (from David de Gea) as a team we have to defend that corner. We couldn’t, they are big and strong in the air, their service is good.’

Mourinho appeared to snub a handshake from Stoke manager Mark Hughes at the end of the game, but refused to be drawn on the issue when asked about it afterwards.

He said: ‘I don’t speak about stupid things, I’m too old for that. Stupid things are for stupid people.’

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