Drawing out a vintage Mourinho whine
Chelsea cadges a tie, Manchester United manager rages on field
Deflated after seeing his team concede a last-minute goal against his former club, Jose Mourinho looked up from his seat in the dugout to see a rival coach taunting him just a few metres away.
So began a chain of events that offered another illustration of why the Manchester United manager remains the biggest box-office draw in English soccer.
In a tempestuous ending to United’s 2-2 draw at Chelsea on Saturday, Mourinho leapt up and attempted to confront Chelsea technical assistant Marco Ianni. But he was held back by security staff and members of his own coaching team.
Chelsea fans reacted by aiming vitriol and abuse from the stands at Mourinho, the man who oversaw the most successful period in the London club’s history. Mourinho’s postmatch response? To walk onto the field and hold three fingers up to the home support, signifying the three Premier League titles he won across two spells in charge of Chelsea.
Then, of course, came those must-watch post-match Mourinho interviews when he played the victim, said Chelsea apologized to him, and then belittled Ianni.
“Don’t do what everyone does and say, ‘It’s Mourinho who does things,’ ” he said. “I don’t know his name, I don’t need to know. Everything is fine.”
United’s latest impressive rally might be overlooked amid the late-match shenanigans involving its manager.
Having come from two goals down to beat Newcastle 3-2 be- fore the international break, United again responded well to going behind following Antonio Rudiger’s 21st-minute goal at Stamford Bridge.
Anthony Martial scored twice in the second half but United was denied victory by Ross Barkley’s goal in the sixth minute of injury time.
It ensured United remained in the middle of the standings and preserved Chelsea’s unbeaten start after nine games.
On his first return to a club where he won two league titles in a decade of service, Joe Hart was afforded a standing ovation by Manchester City’s fans when he ran out at Etihad Stadium to play for new club Burnley. He would receive a replica mosaic and a lifetime season ticket.
But Hart conceded five goals as City strolled to a 5-0 win thanks to scores by Sergio Aguero, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Riyad Mahrez, and Leroy Sane. It was a seventh victory in nine games for the champions, who stayed in first place on goal difference from Liverpool.
Elsewhere, with just his second goal since August, Mohamed Salah ensured Liverpool kept pace with Man City thanks to a 1-0 win at Huddersfield.
Erik Lamela’s goal earned Tottenham a hard-fought1-0 win at West Ham and a seventh victory in nine games.
Tottenham is tied for points with Chelsea and only two points off first place.