Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has admitted that he was "upset" by criticism of his players following their recent run of poor form.
The Red Devils suffered a spell of three consecutive defeats at the hands of Manchester City, Feyenoord and Watford respectively, before returning to winning ways against Northampton Town in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night.
However, Mourinho was unhappy with the treatment his side received from the media during that losing run, describing the journalists and pundits as "Einsteins".
"I am such a lucky guy. I can't be upset with anything. The only thing that upsets me a little bit is the kind of criticism for my players," he told reporters.
"I would love to protect my players, but from you (the media) I can't. It is completely out of my control. That gives me a feeling that it is hard. That is frustrating. The Einsteins need money to live. They can't coach, they can't be on the bench, they can't win matches. They can speak, they can write.
"They can criticise the work of other people. But I am a good man. I am a man of goodwill. I do lots of charity work. I am helping so many people. Why not also help feed the Einsteins."
United will look to end a two-game losing streak in the Premier League when they welcome champions Leicester City to Old Trafford on Saturday.