Jose's verdict on Norwich

Jose Mourinho said he felt ‘very sad’ for the players after our FA Cup exit on penalties to Norwich City on Wednesday evening.

The fifth round tie went all the way after Jan Vertonghen’s early header was cancelled out in the 78th minute by Josip Drmic. We came closest to winning in 90 minutes when Serge Aurier’s goalbound shot was cleared off the line by Ben Godfrey.

It stayed 1-1 after extra time, so to the shoot-out from 12 yards. We took the early initiative after Michel Vorm kept out Kenny McLean but Erik Lamela missed and then Tim Krul denied both Troy Parrott and Gedson to clinch it 3-2 from the spot.

“I think we deserved to win on 90 minutes and on 120,” said Jose. “I’m so sad for the boys but I don’t criticise, I just can’t.

“The boys, they gave what they have and what they don’t have. Some reached the limit, like Lucas, like Berwijn, they reached the limit and they told me ‘one more minute and I am in big, big trouble’. Some of the others stayed and stayed until their limits, when I look, for example, to Giovani Lo Celso, a performance I feel was absolutely incredible.

“After the equaliser, the team had an incredible reaction. Normally, you could just die, and even in a moment where Lucas was not playing, Bergwijn was not playing, without them, the boys who were on the pitch tried absolutely everything to win.

“We were so close in 90, so close in 120, then we lose on penalties. It was frustrating and I repeat, I’m very sad for the boys.

“Skipp was tremendous, but every boy who played was tremendous. Our attacking players, I call them heroes, because they play every minute and they produce, they try, they arrive in dangerous positions, but we don’t score as much goals as we could. We were defensively more compact, more solid, Winks, Skipp, a good balance in midfield. I’m so sad for them, so sad for the fans, they were fantastic in their support, I’m just sorry.”