Mourinho lashes out at critics after United's dramatic win

Jose Mourinho sent a message to his "lovers" on Tuesday, calling out his critics after Manchester United edged past Young Boys to secure a spot in the Champions League knockout stage.

"Let me send a message to my lovers and let me say that I've played Champions League for 14 years and I've qualified 14 times," Mourinho said during his post-match press conference, according to Sky Sports' Jack Wilkinson.

"The two years where I didn't play in the Champions League, I won the Europa League twice.

"So in 16 years, 14 times I qualify and twice I play Europa League and I won. So just curiosity for my lovers and the lovers of the stats."

The United manager celebrated wildly on the touchline by smashing a water bottle holder to the ground after Marouane Fellaini's 91st-minute winner put a positive spin on what was an otherwise disappointing night for the hosts at Old Trafford.

David De Gea also played a significant role in the win after his acrobatic goal-line clearance prevented United from falling behind. Mourinho was full of praise for the Spanish goalkeeper after the game.

"He is a world-class player," Mourinho said, according to ESPN FC's Rob Dawson. "He is the best goalkeeper in the world and if our ambitions are to be a big club, to be a winning club, you need the best goalkeeper in the world - and you need also some other players (to be) the best in the world.

"In this case, we have the best goalkeeper in the world and I know that he wants to stay.

"I know that his agent is happy to do what the player wants and I also know that the board wants him to stay and they're working on that, so hopefully sooner or later they arrive into good conclusions."

Manchester United will have a chance to top Group H if - combined with a Juventus loss to Young Boys - they beat Valencia in their final group stage encounter,