Mour pain for Jose
MAN UTD ... 0 SPURS ........ 3
JOSE MOURINHO is fighting to save his job after one of the most shambolic defeats of his career.
Tottenham fans taunted him with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” as
Mauricio Pochettino’s side piled the pressure on the under-fire United boss.
He needed a win after the Reds’ abject 3-2 defeat to Brighton, but the self-proclaimed Special One watched in dismay as he suffered his heaviest home loss as a manager. Spurs striker Harry Kane opened the scoring five minutes after the break, and said: “It’s massive. “To come to Old Trafford and win the way we did is a big statement. We got the first goal, then
THE jubilant away end drowned out Old Trafford as the storm clouds gathered over Jose Mourinho.
“You’re not special any more” was followed by “Sacked in the morning” with the Tottenham fans celebrating the demise of the Portuguese as much as their own victory.
And the harsh reality is they have a point. Back in the glory days, Mourinho was a specialist at digging our results when he needed them. Now he just feels like a specialist in failure.
Mourinho looked broken on the touchline, suffering as Spurs ran riot in the second half and you wonder how long he can survive.
The United fans made their feelings clear, the stadium was half empty by the final whistle after Harry Kane and two-goal Lucas Moura completed a remarkable win.
Even the club’s own in-house TV channel kept panning to United’s executive vicechairman Ed Woodward in the stands with his face looking increasingly strained.
Mourinho had responded to the growing crisis by doing what he knows best – shutting up shop.
He did not exactly park the bus, but went for a back three to beef up his midfield.
Victor Lindelof and
Eric Bailly were unceremoniously dropped with Chris Smalling and Phil Jones recalled.
The big surprise was Ander Herrera playing in an unfamiliar role on the right of the three.
United looked more solid initially after the mauling at Brighton and they dominated, pushing Spurs back and creating the best chances.
United were given an early gift when Danny Rose, a surprise inclusion in Tottenham’s starting line-up, played a clumsy back pass.
Romelu Lukaku seized on the opening, rounded Hugo Lloris, but dragged his shot wide of an open goal – albeit from an acute angle.
Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic also went close with both bosses becoming increasingly frustrated on the touchline.
Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino looked incensed as Kane and Herrera (left) were shown yellow cards on an increasingly niggly evening.
But as United failed to capitalise on their possession, Spurs grew in confidence.
Moura had a good shout for a penalty after being pushed by Jones and United keeper David De Gea made a smart save from Christian Eriksen.
Tottenham finished the first half strongly, then took complete control after the break. It was as if they had suddenly realised that United were there for the taking.
The first goal came after 50 minutes, Kieran Trippier’s deep corner caused chaos, Kane peeled away from Jones and the England striker’s looping header dipped into the far corner. After breaking his duck at not scoring in August last week, now Kane cannot stop. Suddenly, United were wobbling.
Tottenham keeper Lloris made a terrific save to stop Lukaku grabbing an instant equaliser. But if it was bad for United, it got even worse as the visitors doubled their lead after 52 minutes.
Eriksen skipped down the right, Kane made a clever decoy run and Moura made a darting run and steered home perfectly beyond De Gea. It nearly got even worse as Lindelof – on for Jones, who hobbled off – played a terrible back pass, Dele Alli nipped in, rounded De Gea, but the keeper recovered just in time.
Then to compound the misery, Moura made it three with six minutes left. The Brazilian powered towards goal, tied Lindelof up in knots before firing past De Gea.
It really feels now as if time is running out for Mourinho.