Jose Mourinho bemoaned his luck and claimed Arsenal’s last-gasp draw at Manchester United felt like a defeat.
Substitute Olivier Giroud headed an 89th-minute equaliser as the Gunners snatched a Premier League point with a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
United boss Mourinho never lost a league or cup game to the Gunners during his time as Chelsea manager, but he spoke as if that fine personal record against Arsene Wenger’s men had been damaged.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Mourinho said:
“Arsenal was the game today, a big team, and we dominated so easily. It is very frustrating.
“I have nothing to say against my players, but I feel sorry for them because we feel like a defeat and, for sure, Arsenal is feeling like a victory.”
To emphasise this point, when Mourinho came to the end of his press conference, he left the room saying,
“Finally I lost against Arsenal. That is the feeling I take home. Finally I lost against Arsenal.”
Earlier he had been asked how he explained the result and simply said:
“I don’t.”
He added: “I can only explain the work my team did – amazing control of a team that is very good, a team that normally produces very good attacking football was completely controlled.
“When we lost the ball, our reaction to that moment was amazingly good, so aggressive, so intense we didn’t give them chances to build from the back.
“When we had the ball, we produced good football, we produced good chances. We should have scored before the 1-0, we should have scored after the 1-0 and we should win the game comfortably.”
United had led through Juan Mata, but the result meant another two points dropped for United after winning just one of their previous five Premier League games.
Mourinho added: “We all know inside, internally, that in this moment that we are the unlucky team in the Premier League. We know that.
“If we just focus on Burnley, Stoke and Arsenal – nine points easily. If we had (those) six points more we are top four and close to the top of the league.”
Mourinho reacted angrily when United were denied a penalty by referee Andre Marriner in the first half after Antonio Valencia tangled with Nacho Monreal.
But, after recent brushes with authority, the Portuguese was restrained after the game.
He said: “I know that it is or isn’t a penalty, I watch on the video a few times so I know, but I don’t say what I think. I want to reaffirm that the referee tried to do his best.”
