Jose Mourinho backs decision to allow Daley Blind take penalty kick

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said there is no drama over his decision to hand Daley Blind penalty duties in the 2--0 win over Benfica on Tuesday. Anthony Martial missed a first-half spot-kick, Blind made no mistake with his second-half penalty, but only after both Romelu Lukaku and Ander Herrera had initially took over the ball to take the spot-kick.

Mourinho insisted after the game in his post-match press conference that it was his decision to have Blind take the spot kick, despite Lukaku now going six games without a goal for United.

He said “I don't understand why everyone asks me the same, I'm paid to take decisions, good or bad. In the first half the decision was bad, because the player that I chose to take the penalty missed. In the second half I made another decision, and I don't see the drama, because there is no drama. The penalty taker for this match was Martial. He took in the first half and missed, he was not even on the pitch for the second penalty, and then I have to make a decision. Romelu wants to take, has the personality to take the responsibility, Herrera the same, but my decision, based on what we did in training in the past couple of days, was Blind. The players respected my decision, and that's it, end of story.”