Red Devil Armada
Fansided

Manchester United lose 3-0 to Spurs sending Jose Mourinho into meltdown: MATCH REPORT & MOURINHO REACTION

By Ollie Slack

facebooktwitterreddit

Manchester United were hoping to move on from a tricky week both on and off the pitch by beating Spurs on Monday night. However, Lucas Moura helped his side to a 3-0 victory piling the pressure on Jose Mourinho.

Manchester United started the game brightly and almost scored within seconds if it wasn’t for Fred losing his balance when pulling the trigger at Hugo Lloris’ goal.

This snapshot within the first minute of the match foreshadowed how the first half unfolded for United. Playing on the front foot and with bundles of energy Jose Mourinho’s side never looked like converting the 23 shots they had at goal.

.With five minutes to go of the first half, Tottenham upped their game. Pressing United quicker and winning the ball back in the final third, Spurs were able to use the pace of Moura on the counter and the creativity of Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen in and around the box.

Spurs continued to knock on the door as half-time approached and Mourinho would have been glad it came. Giving his players time to regroup and to get any instructions across, fans were expecting to see a similar pattern to the first half.

But, it was Mauricio Pochetino’s men who took off where they left. And this time they were clinical delivering two sucker-punch goals in the space of two minutes.

First Harry Kane guided a header, after losing Phil Jones, from a corner perfectly onto the intersection of the goal netting. Before Lucas Moura exposed United’s makeshift defence of Herrera, Smalling and Jones for what it was.
First Harry Kane guided a header, after losing Phil Jones, from a corner perfectly onto the intersection of the goal netting. Before Lucas Moura exposed United’s makeshift defence of Herrera, Smalling and Jones for what it was. /

Christian Eriksen ran in-behind the defence and Chris Smalling, who did everything he normally would, stepped up to leave the Dane offside. However, with Ander Herrera lacking experience in a centre-back role, he failed to step up too playing the Spurs playmaker onside.

Eriksen took the ball to the byline before pulling back for Moura, who swept the ball into the bottom left corner evading the measly block from Herrera, who didn’t cover himself in glory.

Mourinho had to twist and make a change to try and force their way back into the game. Jones pulled a hamstring meaning Victor Lindelof entered the pitch. But the other two substitutions consisted of Alexis Sanchez and Marouane Fellaini for Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic.

Despite the changes, United looked shellshocked by the two quick goals and never appeared to be making any chances for a comeback.
Despite the changes, United looked shellshocked by the two quick goals and never appeared to be making any chances for a comeback. /

As United pushed, Moura kept on pushing further, adding a third for Spurs on the counter-attack with just over five minutes left to play.

The final whistle blew and from the fans that were still in the stadium, Mourinho and his players received a mixed reaction. A few boos seemed to seep out after Craig Pawson brought an end to proceedings, however, the Portuguese-manager made a point of standing in front of the Stretford End and clapping back at the supporters who continued to show demonstrate their faith.

Who is to blame?

The defeat once again brings about the question of who is to blame. Overall, defensive mistakes cost United the game on Monday. Although, this is a side who are playing with no confidence. A side who conceded the least amount of goals last season, who don’t become poor overnight.

In the forward play, there seems to be not as greater identity displayed by those above the Reds in the table. Man City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and now even Arsenal of all clubs have an easily recognisable identity and style of play.

Mourinho may be sulking a little about the transfer market, rightly or wrongly. However, as he keeps saying, it doesn’t open until the 1st of January so therefore he needs to focus on the players at the club and go back to doing what he does best.

Because he himself seems to have lost identity too. Mourinho used to be so ruthless against the lesser sides and sturdy against the top six. Now he is not even proving that. In my opinion, he needs to go back to his own methods, which worked to get us, runners-up, last season and from there he can build up a more Manchester United-like identity again.
Because he himself seems to have lost identity too. Mourinho used to be so ruthless against the lesser sides and sturdy against the top six. Now he is not even proving that. In my opinion, he needs to go back to his own methods, which worked to get us, runners-up, last season and from there he can build up a more Manchester United-like identity again. /

What does the extensive clapping after the match really signify?

Mourinho has always tried to create an, “Us against the world” mentality wherever he has been. And probably more than ever in his career, the vultures are out to get him and Manchester United.

I think he saw this an opportunity to crowd please, to suck up to the fans. To create that us against them mentality again. If not, he should.

Next. Jose Mourinho's change in demeanour has led to many Manchester United fans worried that the Portuguese-man may return to his days of 2015 at Chelsea - FIND OUT WHY!. dark

Getting Manchester United fans on board in mass will help boost the team on the pitch but also allow Mourinho not to feel like he’s being picked on and fighting the press alone. Something which at the moment, seems to be weighing him down massively.

Home/Manchester United News