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Jose Mourinho brands Eric Bailly 'naive' for red card which rules Man Utd defender out of Europa League final
Jose Mourinho branded Eric Bailly 'naïve' for being ruled out of the Europa League final after Manchester United’s progress was marred by the defender’s red card.
Bailly’s late dismissal was the only sour note on what proved a tense but triumphant night as Celta Vigo were overcome.
“I didn't see the red card incident but Eric Bailly was phenomenal,” said Mourinho. “The game was emotional for everyone. Some kept control better than others.
“Facundo Roncaglia is not new in these situations, Bailly was probably naive. We now lose a very important player for the final, and we don't have many."
Mourinho says lifting the Europa League can now ensure the perfect end to his first season at Manchester United as his side secured their place in the final.
United will face Ajax in Stockholm on May 24, seeking the one trophy that has eluded them in an illustrious history.
It was a nervous, at times chaotic finale at Old Trafford after Vigo equalised on the night after 85 minutes and two players – United’s Bailly and Vigo’s goalscorer Facundo Roncaglia - were sent off.
Mourinho was relieved his side progressed 2-1 on aggregate, attributing the nervous closing stages to United’s failure to finish the tie sooner, especially after they had dominated the first leg last week.
“After 14 matches we are in the final. If we win the Europa League I am more than happy. It would be amazing,” he said.
“It means there is an opportunity to win a trophy, an opportunity to be back in the Champions League, and it means an opportunity to end the season in a perfect way because a final is the last match of the season.
“Obviously Manchester United has had other semi-final and finals and Champions League finals. Obviously this was not the most important match in the history of the club or myself but it is a way to approach things. For Celta, for Vigo it was the most important game of their history and it was important for us we equalled that desire and in the end when the game was difficult and they were better than us and we were in trouble and not playing well, that desire, that mentality and that togetherness made the boys fight.”
United had to ride their luck in the final stages, but over the two legs Mourinho felt his side deserved victory.
“Every game is a game with a different story but our story this season is normally when we play very well we don’t score enough goals, and then when not playing well we are in trouble," he said.
“We were the best team in the first leg but we never kill, we never score goals related to the chances we have. It was an open game at home, all the pressure on our side.
“They were completely free of responsibility and gave us a very hard match. We suffered until the end and it was open until the last second. The boys gave everything they had. I'm really pleased for them.”
Vigo coach Eduardo Berizzo felt his side should have progressed.
“We played really well and reduced the opposition to one chance from which they scored,” said Berizzo.
“We played how we dreamed of playing and with all the effort it is a shame we didn’t make the final. We played better here than United did in Vigo. With that maybe we deserved to go through.”
