The Spanish midfielder saw red for two needless challenges in the first 35 minutes, undermining what had been a great start for his side
Jose Mourinho chuckled away like it was all he could do not to react with rage as Michael Oliver showed Ander Herrera a first-half red card in Manchester United’s FA Cup quarter-final loss to Chelsea.
But, while the Portuguese may decry the referee’s decision, it is his own midfielder who should be doing the apologising after the Red Devils’ cup defence was ended in west London by N’Golo Kante’s 51st-minute goal.
With no Zlatan Ibrahimovic, no Wayne Rooney, no Anthony Martial, and Marcus Rashford arriving after the rest of the squad due to a bout of illness, Mourinho’s side were always going to have to take a cagey approach against the runaway Premier League leaders.