‘Man United Were In Control Until Red Card’- Boss Jose Mourinho Claims

Jose Mourinho was confident his Manchester United side were on course for victory before Ander Herrera saw red in their FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea.

Herrera was sent off by Michael Oliver after 35 minutes for two bookable offences on Eden Hazard, with Chelsea going on to win 1-0 thanks to N’Golo Kante’s second-half winner.

Manchester United had frustrated Chelsea up until Kante’s 51st-minute strike, with David de Gea producing a number of impressive saves at Stamford Bridge.

But despite the pressure from Chelsea, everything was going to plan according to Mourinho – until Herrera was given his marching orders.

“We all saw the game and we can have different opinions and perspectives, but I think we all have to agree that there was a match until the moment Herrera saw the red card,” said Mourinho. “It was another match after that.
“Before that, I saw a game with the feeling that I was going to win, because everything was under control and the frustration was evident because they couldn’t play the way they always play.
“With 10 men it was very difficult for us because our strategy was to play with two players up front, and when you have two players up front the three central defenders couldn’t come forward with the ball.
“They were kicking long balls, they were kicking bad long balls outside of the pitch and then when we have one player less, they went for three against one and could bring the ball forward and be more dominant.”