MAN UNITED 0, VALENCIA 0
There were audible boos at the final whistle as Manchester United were held at home by Valencia in their Champions League group game.
It was miserable viewing as United rarely looked like beating Spanish opponents who are languishing in 14th place in La Liga.
They say there are lies, damned lies and statistics, and the stats for the Reds and manager Jose Mourinho don’t make pleasing reading.
This was United’s fourth game without a win and the first time in Mourinho’s long and illustrious career that he has failed to register a victory in four consecutive home games.
And Mourinho cut a forlorn figure as he made his way to the tunnel at the end of an eminently forgettable game. There certainly wasn’t the overwhelming backing from fans that there has been at previous games as support seems to be ebbing away.
Though it was a disappointing night, fans must not lose sight of the fact they are second behind Juventus is their group, unbeaten in their two group games and still strongly placed to make the last 16 knockout phase.
Mourinho refused to comment on scathing criticism from former player Paul Scholes pre-match when he described his “mouth is probably out of control and I think he’s embarrassing the club”.
“I’m not interested. It is freedom of speech and a free country. He can say what he thinks,” he said.
And on the reaction from supporters at the end, Mourinho added: “It is freedom of speech, especially from Manchester United fans who I respect 100-per-cent.”
Of the game, Mourinho said: “I was pleased with the effort and commitment and with the improvement.
“I was not pleased with the result which was not good, but not bad.”
Mourinho added there were things he would like to say, but he preferred not to do so as it would provide “another reason to criticise me”.
Mourinho made four changes from the side beaten at West Ham on Saturday.
There were recalls for Alexis Sanchez, Antonio Valencia, Eric Bailly and Marcus Rashford as Ashley Young, Scott McTominay, Victor Lindelof and Anthony Martial lost out.
Valencia, who recorded their first win of the season on Saturday, included familiar faces, Chelsea loanee Michy Batshuayi, ex Arsenal pair Gabriel and Francis Coquelin, former QPR midfielder Daniel Parejo and one time Bolton striker Rodrigo.
There was a delayed kick off by five minutes owing to the late arrival of the Reds who got caught up in traffic congestion as fans were also streaming into Old Trafford as the game got under way.
Jose Mourinho on difficulties getting the bus to Old Trafford on time for Manchester United’s Champions league game against Valencia
Mourinho added it took 75 minutes to make the short journey from the nearby Lowry Hotel after police refused to provide an escort for the coach.
The Reds only arrived at 7.15pm and Mourinho praised understanding UEFA officials for allowing the game to start five minutes late to give them extra time to prepare.
Valencia had the first goal attempt of the game after a lively opening 12 minutes when Goncaio Guedes fired straight at David De Gea from the right of the box.
United’s first chance after quarter of an hour came from Rashford cut in from the left before firing narrowly wide from 20 yards.
Rashford had another strike at goal from distance, but it went low and straight at keeper Neto and not long after had a header blocked.
Sanchez’s misery continued as his free kick from a great position was headed clear as it failed to clear the defensive wall.
After a largely forgettable opening period, it was more of the same after the restart.
The main threat to United came from left winger Guedas but, fortunately for the Reds his finishing didn’t match his excellent approach play.
And as the frustration increased, eventually came the cries of ‘attack, attack, attack’ from the stands.
Just after the hour, United had their best chance of the game after Sanchez was body checked 30 yards from goal.
Paul Pogba was preferred to Sanchez for dead-ball duties and his kick was excellently tipped over the bar by Neto.
Romelu Lukaku was denied by a super stop by Neto after the striker was put through by a great forward pass by Pogba.
United made their first change with 14 minutes left when Sanchez made way for Martial.
Rashford came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock with four minutes left when his free kick from a tight angle hit the crossbar.
And that was quickly followed by Lukaku heading narrowly over from Luke Shaw’s corner as there was no way through a resolute Valencia defence.