Mourinho looks to be losing plot
TOUGH TASK: UNITED BOSS HAS TO INSPIRE A REACTION
Plenty of negative vibes coming out of Old Trafford.
Adifficult start to the season for Manchester United promises to get even worse unless Jose Mourinho can turn a tide of negative publicity and inspire a reaction from his side against Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.
United already trail title favourites Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea by three points after a dreadful display in losing 3-2 to Brighton last weekend and that gap could have doubled by kick-off at Old Trafford with all three expected to win again.
City travel to Wolves and Liverpool host Brighton today, while Chelsea travel to Newcastle tomorrow.
Spurs are also yet to drop points after seeing off Newcastle and Fulham.
Mauricio Pochettino’s response to not signing a single player in the transfer window and delays over the club’s move to a new stadium have been a lesson in diplomacy for Mourinho.
Rather than voice his frustration, Pochettino has consistently called for unity between the board, squad and fans and has been rewarded with two wins.
United, by contrast, look anything but living up to their name with divisions emerging between executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, key players like Paul Pogba and Mourinho.
Woodward’s failure to answer Mourinho’s pleas for a new central defender was punished as Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof were exposed in defeat at Brighton.
But both players were brought in at a combined cost of £60 million since Mourinho was appointed and he has equally failed to get the best out of an expensively assembled squad.
Woodward may now be regretting hiring Mourinho rather than going after Pochettino, who has led Spurs into the top four for each of the past three seasons on a fraction of the resources.
The Londoners have lost 1-0 on each of their last three league visits to Old Trafford, though, and are also seeking revenge for defeat in last season’s FA Cup semifinals.
Reversing that run would be a strong statement of intent that they and not United will rival City, Liverpool and Chelsea for the title.
A summer of change at Arsenal and West Ham has so far yielded no points for either, making today’s London derby vital for Unai Emery and Manuel Pellegrini to kickstart their new regimes.
It may still be August, but Cardiff’s visit to Huddersfield already looks crucial for both sides’ chances of staying up.
Everton’s trip to Bournemouth pits two in-form strikers against one another in Richarlison and Callum Wilson.
Richarlison leads the early Golden Boot race along with Sadio Mane and Sergio Aguero after scoring three goals in his first two Everton games. – Tottenham