Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho reacts during their English Premier League soccer match against Manchester United at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England October 26, 2014. [Photo/Agencies] |
MANCHESTER - Jose Mourinho shared the honors with former mentor Louis van Gaal as his Chelsea side drew at Manchester United in the Premier league on Sunday, but there was no doubt which of the pair was happier with the 1-1 result.
Leading through Didier Drogba's header early in the second half, Chelsea never looked like surrendering the lead until Robin van Persie fired home in stoppage time after Thibaut Courtois could only parry a powerful Marouane Fellaini header.
Mourinho, at the post-match press conference, declined to comment on referee Phil Dowd's decision to send off Branislav Ivanovic for a second foul on Angel Di Maria and award the free kick that led to United's equaliser.
But he made clear the result was a disappointment.
"We are not happy with a point," he said, summing up the game as "a good Manchester United but a very good Chelsea".
"My feeling is that we had a good first half and a fantastic second half," he said, praising the "evolution" of his team since last season.
Van Gaal looked the more cheerful of the two bosses, even though he said it was not United's most impressive showing since he took charge at the start of the season.
"I said to the boys it was not our best performance and that's a pity, because at this moment you have to show yourself against the better teams," he said.
"We have created a lot of chances, much more than Chelsea."