Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 7y

Jose Mourinho: It's 'always the right changes' with class of Man United subs

MANCHESTER -- Jose Mourinho hailed the strength of his Manchester United squad after watching two substitutes secure a 2-0 win over Leicester at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Leicester were frustrating United until Mourinho brought on Marcus Rashford, who scored the opener 20 minutes from time.

Another substitute, Marouane Fellaini, added a second late on to seal a third Premier League win in a row. Romelu Lukaku's missed penalty was the only downside.

And Mourinho said in his postgame news conference: "This is about the quality of the players because they are good. It doesn't matter if they come from the bench because the group is solid.

"I am really happy, not for me. When we make changes, it is always the right changes. I am happy for them, for Marouane, for Jesse [Lingard], for Marcus.

"Normally when you miss a penalty with half an hour to go there is a little collapse. That did not happen today. We kept playing today."

Mourinho is still hoping for one more signing before Thursday's transfer deadline.

But the United manager could not find a place in his 18-man squad against Leicester for captain Michael Carrick or new £31 million defender Victor Lindelof.

And Mourinho used his programme notes ahead of the game to issue something of an apology to the players who, at moment, cannot even get on the bench.

He wrote: "It might be easy for people to praise the ones who have done so well in the opening games of the season, but I prefer to praise the amazing professionals who are not playing.

"They have not played the minutes they would have liked so far but they are all being very patient and waiting for their opportunity to become important for the team."

Mourinho is still insisting United's fast start "means nothing" after watching his team win the first three games of last season only to finish sixth.

But while the preseason tour of China 12 months was hit with complications, Mourinho insists this summer's trip to the United States has provided a better platform.

"We had a very good preseason. We worked really well," he said. "We had great conditions to work together, to be together in a beautiful atmosphere.

"We played against good teams, the best team in Europe twice. The preseason was very complete and then we start the Premier League. We are playing well.

"I am not carried away, three matches, nine points is good, 10 goal difference is good."

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