Jose Mourinho names the Manchester United star who inspired comeback win against Bournemouth

Jose Mourinho names the Manchester United star who inspired comeback win against Bournemouth

Jose Mourinho hailed the impact of Ander Herrera following Manchester United's comeback win over Bournemouth.

United trailed to Callum Wilson's well merited early opening goal but hit back against the run of play through Anthony Martial, who scored for the fourth game running.

Mourinho's side largely dominated after the break and took control of the match following Herrera's introduction 10 minutes after the re-start.

Replacing the abject Fred, the Spain international injected extra poise and energy at the heart of his side's midfield and twice went close to scoring with crisp shots from the edge of the penalty area.

Although it was fellow substitute Marcus Rashford who plundered the winning goal in injury-time, Mourinho reserved special praise for Herrera.

'In the second-half I knew by having the two brothers on the bench - Rashford and Lingard - I knew the brothers could come in and make an impact,' Mourinho said. 'But I think the impact was Ander Herrera. I think was the impact in the team.

'Was the one that changed the game by giving the team, the balance, the intensity, the high pressure, the organisation that the team didn't have until then I think he was fundamental for us.

Jose Mourinho names the Manchester United star who inspired comeback win against Bournemouth

'He's a player of balance, he's not an incredible creator, he's not an incredible goalscorer, he has a little bit of everything but I think he's a player of balance, knowledge, his tactical knowledge is big, he understands what I want, what the team needs.

'And today, in theory, you say 'Come on, 1-1, you bring Herrera'. I bring Herrera. But then Ashley Young and Luke Shaw start attacking more, Paul gets much more freedom, the team recover balls higher and then we become more offensive in the period after Ander. So I think he was really good for us.'

Jose Mourinho names the Manchester United star who inspired comeback win against Bournemouth

Herrera himself, added: 'I think they [Bournemouth] were much better in the first half and we were much better in the second. I think we cannot give the first 20, 25 minutes away because that makes our games more difficult.

'I think the attitude in the second half and the last ten minutes of the first half was fantastic but I want us to be a whole-game team.

'Against Everton we were good. We want to be a team that plays that well in a whole game.'

Comments

Keep up to date with our latest articles and uploads...