'Ed Woodward won 2-0': Jose Mourinho supports Manchester United CEO after fans' 'specialist in failure' plane protest

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Jose Mourinho claims Ed Woodward is a winner - even after fans launched a protest against the Manchester United executive vice chairman.

Supporters chartered a plane to fly above Turf Moor for Sunday’s 2-0 win against Burnley, with a banner reading: ‘Ed Woodward - A Specialist in Failure.’

It was evidence that the club’s fanbase remains behind Mourinho, despite a troubled start to the campaign, which saw United lose back-to-back games before Sunday’s win.

They have instead focused their ire on Woodward over his failure land top transfer targets in the summer.

Mourinho, who went over to greet the travelling support at the end of the match and threw his jacket into the crowd, tried to diffuse the growing tension between fans and hierarchy when asked about the protest.

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“In the match I am not looking to the sky unless I am asking the guy for help,”he joked. “I didn’t see planes, but Ed Woodward won 2-0 this afternoon.”

Mourinho has increasingly turned to the fans for backing during the most difficult period of his Old Trafford reign.

And he was quick to praise them for their vociferous support for him throughout at Turf Moor.

“I think we started winning this match because of Old Trafford after Spurs,” he said. “We lose at home: if the fans reacted bad, the team loses confidence, the team feels pressure and the next match is more difficult.

“We lost at home, the fans were amazing and understood the performance was good, the result was bad, so it was not a sad week.

“I feel a bit sorry we didn’t score a couple of goals in front of them because it would be magic for them.”

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Mourinho added: “The manager is not important, the team is important. The manager does not play.

“I have miles and miles and miles on the touchline to cope with every different reaction from the crowd. I am really happy with the performance, the result and to give that good feeling to the fans. They are the most responsible for the week.”

Two first half goals from Romelu Lukaku ensured United headed into the international break with their second win of the season.

“I think some of you must be disappointed,” he added. “It would be much better if we lose. But I think the performance was very good and very good since the first ball we touched.

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“After 10 minutes we were playing so so well and we were losing quite easy chances that I had a feeling of more Tottenham can happen. But also a feeling that playing this way we have to win.

“We should kill the game much earlier, but the performance was very good, very solid and important.”

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