Fellaini: Mourinho asked us to be men

Marouane Fellaini has revealed Jose Mourinho asked the Manchester United players “to be men and not afraid” prior to their dramatic comeback victory over Newcastle United.

Amid fierce speculation over Mourinho’s future, United fell two goals behind inside 10 minutes on Saturday – the first time in Premier League history that has happened at Old Trafford.

But they rallied to score three goals inside the final 20 minutes, with Juan Mata and Anthony Martial netting before Alexis Sanchez headed in a 90th-minute winner.

Fellaini, who came on at half-time in place of Scott McTominay, told BT Sport: “The manager asked us to be men and to not be afraid and just play. 

“That’s what we did. The first half was a difficult moment for us, but we were more aggressive in the second half and we played more direct and created more chances.”

It wasn’t perfect but it was United, and this is what it feels like! #MUFC #MUNNEW pic.twitter.com/0OItaS8ycI

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 6, 2018

Mata, meanwhile, feels positive results can fix any crisis in football, even a story that has generated the level of debate as Mourinho’s United future. 

“We needed something like that,” he said. “It was very difficult to come back but we created more chances than we scored.

“We gave everything we had to win and in the second half we felt we had nothing to lose, and it is natural to create more when that happens.

“It is a relief and we feel that we got what we needed. In football, results fix everything. In the second half we tried especially for the fans, and tonight they go home happy.”

After their first win in five games, United face matches against Chelsea, Juventus and Everton after the international break.