Nemanja Matic says Man United have to "do more" to catch Man City next season

David Cooper - Writer 22:22 06/03/2018
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  • Dra-MATIC finish: Manchester United players celebrates

    Jose Mourinho praised Manchester United’s “remarkable comeback” after they recovered from two goals down to win 3-2 at Crystal Palace.

    Nemanja Matic’s stoppage-time strike secured an unlikely three points that took them back up to second in the Premier League, ahead of Saturday’s showdown with rivals Liverpool.

    They went two down shortly after half-time when Patrick van Aanholt’s finish doubled the advantage Andros Townsend had already given Palace, but Chris Smalling, Romelu Lukaku and then Matic broke the hosts’ hearts to leave them in 18th place.

    “(It was) a remarkable comeback, but we made mistakes,” said Mourinho, 55. “A fantastic comeback, but mistakes. The attitude, the intensity, the quality, the dynamic, the risk were fantastic. We needed that little bit of luck to win in the last minute.

    “But I’d say we deserved it because the dominance in that last half-hour was huge.”

    The first goal is a bad goal”, he added. “In the second half we were all expecting a direct comeback, and then we concede a goal that is a good goal to show the kids in the academies in the country.

    “Palace did very, very well. Roy (Hodgson, their manager) was aggressive. Roy was clever. He went direct and tried to bring the emotion to the game to his team, which he did, and they were always dangerous.

    “It’s very hard for them to lose and go home without a single point, because they gave absolutely everything.”

    Match-winner Matic hailed his teammates fightback but admitted United must do more if they are to challenge Manchester City for the title next season.

    “I’m happy I’ve scored my first goal for Manchester United,” he said. “I know it’s not my job but I’m glad it got us the three points.”

    “After the second goal it was very difficult for us to come back; we showed character and did exactly what the manager wanted us to do,” the Serbian said.

    “In these kind of games, if we can manage to win we can compete for the title. The quality is there but we have to be honest: we need to do more.”

    Provided by Press Association Sport 

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