By Afolabi Adetunji, Lagos Nigeria.
Jose Mourinho has revealed why he chose to play Henrikh Mkhitaryan at left-back against Liverpool on Sunday.
United salvaged a late 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Old Trafford, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic cancelling out James Milner’s first-half penalty and bringing the team back on level terms in the eleventh hour was really fantastic for untied fans to watch. And it was a wonderful performance from the swede after he had missed some chances on goal.
Manchester United were chasing a result for much of the game, with Milner opening the scoring after 27 minutes.
United kept on questioning Liverpool defense to find an equaliser, and it came about after Mourinho’s second-half tactical switch.
The Portuguese introduced Marouane Fellaini in the 76th minute for Matteo Darmian, with Mkhitaryan replacing the Italian at left-back. United would equalise eight minutes later.
When a journalist asked about Darmian’s role, Mourinho replied: “Do you want to buy him? Are you an agent? Do you work for the Italian federation?”
He continued: “When you have Antonio Valencia playing as a right winger you cannot defend with two players, you need that third player to give some cover inside and to keep some balances, and he [Darmian] did that well.
“But then losing, you take Darmian out and play Mkhitaryan left winger, covering a little bit and Valencia right winger, covering a little bit, and you risk everything.
“But I was watching the game, we were losing, I was looking always to the same side – I have a problem with my neck because I was always looking to the left side – and I watched so many yellow guys in front of me I thought let’s go for it, let’s try.”
