Jose: “We needed to win... winning the way we did is even better”
Jose Mourinho underlined how important it was to get back to winning ways ahead of Sunday - and the players delivered in style against Burnley.
On the front foot from the first whistle, goals from Gareth Bale (two minutes), Harry Kane (15) and Lucas (31) saw us 3-0 up by half-time. Gareth’s pinpoint strike, assisted for the second time by Heung-Min Son, completed the scoring 10 minutes into the second half. It might have been more but for Nick Pope keeping out Harry and Sonny later on.
It was just what the doctor ordered after positive displays against Everton (FA Cup) and West Ham in the Premier League last weekend hadn’t produced the results they maybe deserved. Convincing displays in the Europa League against Wolfsberger AC (4-1 away, 4-0 home) also suggested that results were around the corner.
Jose said: “Midweek (Wolfsberger AC) was... the game started 4-1 midweek, so the 4-0 doesn't mean much, but a good performance from the boys. Today was more important, because of course we need the victory, we need three points, we need three points even scoring the winning goal in minute 94, but, of course, winning the way we did is even better.
“It was a good performance, a solid performance, and when you score a goal in minute two or three, the situation gets a bit easier. To be 3-0 at half-time was also important, but Burnley is the kind of team that demands the best from you until the last second, because it doesn't matter the result, they go, they go and they go until the end.”
Gareth played well in both legs against Wolfsberger AC, scoring in each, and again at West Ham last weekend, and he impressed again, not just in his goals, but his 50-yard pass on a sixpence for Harry’s goal was something to behold.
Asked about the Welsh star in his press conference, Jose said: “It was not just about the two goals he scored, it's fundamentally about his physical performance. Now he's not flat, now he has ups and downs in the speed he brings to his actions, even in the area in which he plays, sometimes outside, sometimes inside.
“He played very well, and his condition is very good, and I'm just pleased for the team, because he helped the team to win and that's the most important thing. I'm happy for him.”
Not forgetting the clean sheet - Hugo Lloris’ 100th in the Premier League. Jose added: “It was a good compromise from the team. The defensive line cannot play as high as we did if the midfield and attacking players do not press, especially the player with the ball.
“It was a collective performance, a very positive collective performance, with lots of effort. Even minute 92, 93, two corners against us, the team defended these two corners like it was 1-0 and not 4-0, and this compromise is fundamentally what the team needs.”