JOSE WINS BY A DEFLECTION
Video ref row and Pogba debate takes the focus off Reds problems
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0
MANCHESTER UNITED 2
Lukaku 3, 55
THE benefit of a good oldfashioned controversy? Well, it can take the glare of the intense spotlight off other, deeper fault-lines.
So in a sense, Jose Mourinho had an embarrassment of riches at Huddersfield, where the incessant white noise of VAR and the eternal debate surrounding Paul Pogba allowed him to avoid an issue that could yet derail Manchester United’s season.
Not that the Old Trafford boss is one to avoid issues. Despite his better instinct, he touched on the problem he faces when he spoke of the difficulty ahead, when his seriously-depleted side face Sevilla in the Champions League.
“Today I didn’t rest one single player so we had every available player here,” he said of an ultimately comfortable FA Cup win. “I didn’t rest anyone, I brought two kids that played 90 minutes yesterday because I don’t have another player.”
Asked if that spells trouble against dangerously underrated European opponents, he added: “Can we recover some of them for Wednesday? I believe so.
“I think Rashford, Herrera, Valencia have a chance. Paul, I don’t know. Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, Marouane, Zlatan – I don’t think they have any chance, so we arrive at this crucial moment with some problems. I think mentality is very important. And we’ve strong team bonding, strong team mentality. We know it’s a very difficult match – but we will go for it.”
The speculation surrounding Pogba’s mindset, his best position and his continuing desire to play for United have masked a much deeper issue – that of midfield strength in depth.
For all the talk of him not being utilised properly, the fact is, he has not been the same player since returning from injury in mid-november. One goal in that time explains why Mourinho signed Alexis Sanchez.
Attacking midfielders given total freedom must contribute goals. He has not, which is why he has been withdrawn, both further back into midfield and out of the team.
He is not alone. Nemanja Matic has appeared to struggle with his workload in midfield, and looks a shadow of the player who started the season so strongly. With Herrera and Fellaini injured, Mourinho’s only options are a 36-year-old Michael Carrick heading into retirement, and Scott Mctominay, 21.
Both played well enough in the face of a spirited Town fightback after Romelu Lukaku’s brilliant early goal, but United’s midfield being pinned back for such long periods speaks volumes.
At least Mourinho has the goalscoring quality in Lukaku a £90million price-tag brings. In essence, that was the difference between the sides, with him scoring early in each half.
But with such a shortage of midfield resources just as the season arrives at its business end, it is no wonder the United manager has seemed so volatile of late. A top-four spot is far from guaranteed, and winning the Champions League without a midfield is a tall order.
It is why he needs Pogba back and firing, Matic too, and Herrera returning to levels which arguably made him their best player last season. It is not impossible, but will need management skills from the mastermotivator.
Here, he chose to deflect rather than explore his problems, concentrating on the inherent problems of VAR rather than those in his midfield, though it was Lukaku who ultimately afforded him that possibility.
Mourinho joked he would not criticise the system, “As you know I’m close to being the best behaved manager in the Premier League so nothing can make me lose that trophy this season.” Then swiftly did criticise it, hinting referees do not want it.
He was right in that Juan Mata’s ‘goal’ should not have been referred to the VAR as it was not an obvious mistake, but Town boss David Wagner had the most compelling argument against it: “I don’t like it, I never have. Maybe I’m too traditional, but it kills the emotion in the stadium, and for me that’s a big part of football’s attraction.”
HUDDESFIELD:
Lossl 7, Hadergjonaj 7 (Smith 70), Schindler 5, Zanka 6, Kongolo 7, (Malone 70 6), Billing 7, Williams 8, Quaner 6, Ince 7, Van La Parra 6, Mounie 5.
MANCHESTER UTD:
Romero 7, Young 7, Smalling 6, Lindelof 5, Shaw 5, Mctominay 6, Carrick 6, Matic 6, Mata 7 (Lingard 80, 6), Lukaku 9 (Bailly 90) Sanchez 7 (Martial 76, 6)