Chelsea assistant riles Mourinho
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 boxoffice draw in the Premier League.
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 post-match 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 apologised 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, who was seconds away from the sweetest of victories.
Having come from two goals down to beat Newcastle 3-2 before the international break, United again responded well to going behind following Antonio Rudiger’s 21st-minute goal at Stamford Bridge.
Anthony Martial, again preferred to Alexis Sanchez, 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 mid-table 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, having had a training field dedicated to him on Saturday.
The goalkeeper wasn’t treated so well during the game.
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.
With just his second goal since August, Mohamed Salah ensured Liverpool kept pace with Man City thanks to a 1-0 win at Huddersfield.
Salah is unlikely to repeat his scoring exploits from last season, when he netted 44 in all competitions - 32 coming in the Premier League to leave him as the top scorer.
Harry Kane is still to hit top form. Tottenham have been hit by lots of injuries. Central midfield remains a concern. Despite all that, Spurs have made their best start to a Premier League, with Erik Lamela’s goal earning Mauricio Pochettino’s side a hard-fought 1-0 win at West Ham and a seventh victory in nine games.
By losing at home to Brighton 1-0, Newcastle slipped to last place in the standings and have just two points from nine games. Taking in the end of last season, Rafa Benitez’s side has just one win in its last 15 games in all competitions.
Fulham have now conceded 25 goals - six more than any other Premier League team - after losing 4-2 at Cardiff, which came into the game without a victory in its first season back in England’s top division.
Fulham replaced Cardiff in the bottom three.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ six-match unbeaten run ended with a 2-0 home loss to Watford, with Etienne Capoue and Roberto Pereyra the scorers. Bournemouth and Southampton drew 0-0 in the other game.