Chelsea humiliate Man U, Mourinho
LONDON (AP): WHEN JOSÉ Mourinho and Pep Guardiola meet in their second Manchester derby on Wednesday, they’ll now have something in common. Both have prepared with humiliating 4-0 losses on their return to former clubs.
After Guardiola’s Champions League embarrassment at Barcelona with Manchester City last Wednesday, Mourinho saw his Manchester United side brutally taken apart by Chelsea in the English Premier League yesterday.
Before United’s collapse at Stamford Bridge, City experienced another of their Premier League setbacks with a 1-1 home draw to Southampton.
One of either teams’ trophy quests will end on Wednesday when City and United meet in the League Cup.
The Premier League is the priority, though, and City are top of the standings on goal difference despite their setback, while United are six points back in seventh.
HOPES DASHED
Any hope Mourinho had of this game being a contest ended after 30 seconds.
A speculative long ball from Marcus Alonso drifted past hesitating defenders Daley Blind and Chris Smalling and landed at Pedro Rodríguez’s feet. United goalkeeper David de Gea was already committed far from his goal line at the edge of the penalty area, and Pedro nipped around him and put the ball in the net.
It was another mistake by Smalling that allowed Chelsea to extend their lead in the 21st. A Chelsea corner was flicked on at the near post by United’s Antonio Valencia, then hit teammate Ander Herrera before the lethargic Smalling allowed Cahill to evade him, and the Chelsea defender netted via Blind’s back.
Eden Hazard started the incisive move that ended with a third goal just after the hour. N’Golo Kanté then squared to Nemanja Matic, who returned the ball for Hazard to turn Smalling before dispatching the ball into the corner of the net.
There was worse to come for Mourinho in the 70th. Pedro, who started the rout, set up Kanté to complete it. Kanté waltzed through United’s brittle defence with ease, going past Smalling – who else? – before slotting beyond de Gea.
Antonio Conte was savouring such an emphatic score that lifted Chelsea to fourth, with exuberant celebrations next to Mourinho.
Mourinho, who was fired by Chelsea for a second time last year, was incensed by the conduct of his permanent successor.
“You shouldn’t celebrate like that when it’s 4-0,” Mourinho reportedly told Conte after the game in comments picked up from television footage by Italian media. “You can do so at 1-0, otherwise it’s humiliating for us.”
Neither manager disputed the account, but Conte defended his conduct.
“If we want to cut emotion, then we can stay at home and change our job,” Conte said.
Mourinho, meanwhile, declared himself “delighted” with everything apart from the “mistakes”.
MAN CITY 1, SOUTHAMPTON 1
John Stones’ attempt to pass to Vincent Kompany, instead, managed to set up Nathan Redmond for Southampton’s opener in the 27th minute.
City only had their first shot on target 10 minutes into the second half, although Kelechi Iheanacho did make the most of it by equalising.
“I know when you start (at a new club), it is always difficult,” said Guardiola, who began work at City in July. “We start quite well. Now, in that moment, we are not in that rhythm we had before. We didn’t have 90 bad, bad minutes, but when we are not perfect, we concede a lot.”
The pair put on 93, a partnership which further demoralised West Indies before the outstanding Shannon Gabriel broke the stand when he had the 20-yearold Aslam caught at the wicket by Shai Hope. He was initially adjudged not out, but the decision was overturned on review. The left-hander faced 111 balls and stroked five fours.
Azhar, meanwhile, who has, so far, hit two fours in an innings requiring 102 deliveries, enjoyed a slice of luck when he was given lbw to part-time offspinner Kraigg Brathwaite on 10, after missing a sweep.
However, a subsequent review showed the ball had struck the glove first and the
decision was overturned.
The damage had been done earlier when West Indies failed to produce anything of worth with the bat, losing their last six wickets for the addition of 118 runs.
Captain Jason Holder hammered an unbeaten 31, Roston Chase got 22, and nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo, 20, but the big innings required never materialised.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah picked up another three wickets to end with best figures of four for 86, while left-arm seamer Rahat Ali claimed three for 45 and pacer Sohail Khan, two for 35.