Washington: Pre-season matches against star-studded Real Madrid and Barcelona were good preparation for the rigours of the Premier League even as they demonstrated the Spanish giants’ superior level, Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho said Wednesday.
With a goal from Brazilian striker Neymar, Barcelona defeated Manchester United 1-0 on Wednesday, handing the Red Devils the first defeat of their US Tour.
It came on the heels of a penalty shoot-out victory over Real Madrid after the teams drew 1-1 in their International Champions Cup friendly match.
In terms of sheer talent, Mourinho acknowledged, Real Madrid and Barcelona have the edge.
“I think at this time, the best players are in these two clubs,” he said. “We have to accept that as a reality. For us to play against both in a pre-season without any kind of pressure was very good for us.
“Both played with their best team — (it’s) very, very good for us to measure against them,” he said, but added: “There is only one (Lionel) Messi. There is only one Neymar.
“You can work very hard tactically to try to improve your team, but there are players who are special. Even as an opponent on the bench, it’s great to see their relationship with the ball,” he said.
In the eyes of Mourinho, only Frenchman Paul Pogba in the United squad “showed that he had this level”.
Nevertheless, Mourinho said he departs the US confident that his team have the qualities needed to thrive in the upcoming Premier League campaign.
“We prefer to compare with the teams we play weekly in the Premier League. And we’re much more prepared for that very hard competition, which is a competition with a different style, with a different kind of players,” he said.
Neymar, reportedly pondering a 222-million euro ($256.8 million) move to Paris Saint-Germain, showed why the French club would be willing to pay a world-record price to get him.
He delivered his third goal in two matches in the exhibition tournament as Barcelona handed the English Premiership club their first defeat of the pre-season.
After a bright start Manchester United struggled to contain Barcelona’s star duo of Neymar and Lionel Messi.
Neymar broke through in the 31st, stripping the ball from Antonio Valencia in the penalty area, turning and finding the net.
The goal proved enough to give a second straight victory to new Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde.
Valverde made sweeping changes to the team that beat Juventus 2-1. Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, Samuel Umtiti, Nelson Semedo, Sergio Busquets and 19-year-old midfielder Carles Arena were included in the line-up headed by Messi and Neymar.
There were eight changes to the Manchester United team that defeated Real Madrid on penalties on Sunday, with captain Michael Carrick, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard the only players to retain their starting spots.
It was Manchester United who threatened first, when Rashford’s cross found Romelu Lukaku in the area, but the Belgian couldn’t find the net.
Barcelona inexorably took control, and United goalkeeper David de Gea was given plenty of work by Neymar, Messi and Suarez.
