JOSE MOURINHO hit out at his own medical staff after a team selection blunder in Seville.
Manchester United boss Mourinho had left Paul Pogba on the bench because he had been told Ander Herrera was fit to play after missing the last three games.
But Herrera limped off after 17 minutes of the Red Devils’ goalless draw with Sevilla in this last 16 first leg causing a quick switch around.
Mourinho said: “I think it is a bad injury. He had a small injury that stopped him playing in the last couple of matches, but the medical department made him 100 per cent ready for last Saturday.
“We didn’t play him to give more work and more protection, but it looks like he wasn’t fully fit.
“The medical department made him fully fit. He trained and he looked fit.
The way he was playing he showed that intensity that is only possible when you are fit.
“He was pressing really high, we were not giving one inch to them. Then the backheel created the contraction in the muscular area and now we have proof he was not 100 per cent fit.”
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The pre-match talk had all been about Pogba being omitted again.
In five matches he has now been subbed twice, left out the starting line-up twice and omitted due to a mystery illness for last Saturday’s Cup win at Huddersfield.
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Mourinho said that had created doubt in his mind about playing him last night.
He said: “Paul created some doubt by not playing last Saturday – by not playing by his own decision he was not feeling good and created some doubts .”
Mourinho was also irritated that Pogba had once again become the main issue on a night when Scott McTominay as well as Herrera was chosen ahead of his £89million record buy.
He said: “I understand your question but if I was one of you I would ask if the Manchester United manager agrees Scott McTominay had a fantastic performance and my answer would be yes.
“He looked a senior player, with tactical sense, good responsibility, good in possession, he looked like a man with dozens and dozens of matches in the Champions League but I also answer your question.
“I think Paul tried to make a big effort.
“Paul replaced Ander and he tried to bring the same kind of qualities to the game, with his security of the ball.
“He lost a couple of possessions but he gave us good responsibility in a match away from home against a good team like Sevilla.”
While Sevilla had 25 attempts to United’s six, Mourinho said he was relieved with the result.
He said: “I’m not relieved because I think we finished the game with more space, with more chances of scoring a goal.
“I think the only moment where we felt relieved was in the last couple of minutes in the first half following a couple of our mistakes. They had a couple of good situations.
“So I really feel the result reflects what the game was. You ask me is it a good result? It is not good and it is not bad.
“Now we have one game to decide everything at Old Trafford. It’s knockout football and it will be a big Champions League night.”
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