Jose Mourinho says ‘sometimes dogs are better than men’ after Manchester United draw with Southampton

Jose Mourinho praised Marcus Rashord's rabidity as Manchester United fell further from the top-four

Tom Kershaw
Saturday 01 December 2018 21:02 GMT
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Jose Mourinho praised Marcus Rashford after the final whistle
Jose Mourinho praised Marcus Rashford after the final whistle (Reuters)

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Jose Mourinho praised Marcus Rashford‘s rabidity, claiming that ‘sometimes dogs are better than many men’, after Manchester United drew 2-2 with Southampton.

​Rashford was a rare streak of positivity as Mourinho’s side clambered back from a two-goal deficit at St Mary’s after Stuart Armstrong and Cedric Soares struck for the Saints in the opening 20 minutes.

Yet while United looked on the brink of catastrophe, Rashford scurried around the pitch maniacally, setting up Romelu Lukaku for Manchester United’s first, before beating three defendersto cue Ander Herrer’s cute backheel for the equaliser.

And Mourinho, who has been criticised for scolding the 21-year-old in post-match interviews in the past, leapt to England international’s praises.

“Our best time was when Rashford was fresh and not slowed down by hard tackles,” Mourinho said.

“I love dogs and sometimes they are better than many men. Marcus Rashford was a mad dog with fire and passion until he was slowed down by hard tackles.”

“One foul here, one foul there. 75 minutes and he was done.”

Rashford set up both of Manchester United’s goals (Reuters)
Rashford set up both of Manchester United’s goals (Reuters) (Action Images via Reuters)

The draw leaves Manchester United 16 points adrift of arch-rivals Manchester City after just 13 games and although they returned in the second-half far sturdier at the back, they rarely threatened to find a winner much to the graces of under-fire Southampton boss Mark Hughes.

“It was two points lost,” Mourinho continued. “In the second half we wanted to win but we needed better decisions. Southampton were happy with the point and aboveboard the chances they made were because we lost the ball.

“We had only one [fit] centre back which was a matter of fragility and Phil Jones was a point of stability.”

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