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Cape Town - Jose Mourinho praised the 'phenomenal' efforts of his Manchester United players on their tour of the US after an encouraging 2-1 win over Real Madrid.
Alexis Sanchez and Ander Herrera gave the Red Devils a win over the European champions in their final US tour fixture at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, ahead of the upcoming 2018/2019 English Premiership season.
Mourinho who had been a downcast figure throughout the tour heaped praise on the attitude of his squad that was missing a number of key players due to the World Cup.
"In relation to the match, the result doesn't change anything," Mourinho said.
"My professional players were amazing all pre-season because they know we play against good teams, against good opponents."
We have just a few [senior] players here, lots of kids. Our kids are really, really young because the team of the older ones, on the pitch today we had a couple of kids who were 16 years old.
"People like Herrera, Bailly, Darmian, Mata, all these guys, were phenomenal during the whole pre-season, playing almost every minute of every game.
"So the game today, if we win 2-1, we lose 2-1 or draw 2-2, it doesn't change anything but of course I know the players and I know I can count on them.
"I know that these guys are amazing professionals and I know that they give everything for the club, for the prestige of the club.
"I know it would have not been nice to come here today and lose 5-1 or 6-1 against Real Madrid. They were phenomenal and Karen [Shotbolt, press officer] knows that they were also phenomenal outside of the pitch with lots of commercial commitments, lots of meets and greets, lots of work with foundations. The guys were absolutely phenomenal."
