Jose Mourinho insists he was ‘not an idiot when crying for central defender’ but Man Utd fans point out he bought Bailly and Lindelof

JOSE MOURINHO'S claim he was "not an idiot to be crying for new centre-backs" has been ridiculed by Manchester United fans - as he brought under-achieving defenders Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof to Old Trafford.

The ex-United chief has hailed £85million new boy Harry Maguire's contribution this season, despite United's dire 2-0 loss at West Ham today.

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But Mourinho, who was axed last December, went too far for many Red Devils' supporters when he told Sky Sports: "I was not an idiot when in the last pre-season I was crying for a central defender."

One fan responded: "Yes he was as he had already bought two."

Some supporters on social media insisted club chiefs should have backed Mourinho's demands.

'UNDERWHELMING'

But the chief response was to point out the underwhelming form and fitness of his main defensive signings Bailly and Lindelof.

One fan argued: "He is full of it. Made plenty of bad buys. Undermined his own players in his last season."

And one poster was swiftly rebuked for suggesting "even sir Alex [Ferguson] made a lot of bad buys".

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Replies included: "Well let's see, Fergie never bad mouthed his team in public, he was a better manager. Mourinho didn't improve the team at all. No one in their right mind would employ Mourinho as a manager now."

One supporter suggested it was United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward who brought in Bailly and Lindelof.

But others insisted Mourinho was given more than enough time and money to find the right recruits and tactics.

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