Manchester United completed the unwanted record of losing away to each of last year's promoted teams tonight.
After defeats at Huddersfield Town and Newcastle United, Jose Mourinho's side completed the treble with a 1-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion tonight.
A result that keeps Chris Hughton's men in the Premier League for another season, Mourinho believes he now has demonstrated why fans are perhaps too quick to criticise his team selection.
Having made a number of changes before tonight's match, the front three of Anthony Martial, Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford had filled United fans with some sense of positivity.
After a disappointing 90 minutes though, the Portuguese now believes fans should not be so quick to judge:
The players who replaced others did not perform at a good level ... so maybe now you understand why some players play more than others, and you don't ask all the time why A, B and C, they don't play more.
Without naming any players individually, Mourinho credited their opponents with showing more hunger and ambition throughout the match.
Aware that some of his players may not care as much about finishing 2nd in the Premier League as he does, the Portuguese was strikingly dismissive of the unnamed few:
I thought, for some of them, the possibility to start a game, the possibility to give reason to the ones that during the season are always criticising my choices - Why always Lukaku? Why always Lukaku? Why always Lukaku? ... you have the answer 'why always Lukaku.'
Post-match comments that may well hit home to a few of Mourinho's players, you can watch the entirety of his discussion below.
