Mourinho enters calm spell after victory
ARSENAL’S WIN MAY BE PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR EMERY
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After the furore that followed straight Premier League defeats for Manchester United, Jose Mourinho’s team produced a routine 2-0 victory over Burnley on Sunday.
Romelu Lukaku’s first-half double put United in control before the second half briefly took a dramatic turn when Burnley goalkeeper Joe Hart saved Paul Pogba’s penalty kick and substitute Marcus Rashford was sent off for violent conduct only 11 minutes after coming on.
“Even with 10 men for 15 minutes the team was the team that had the chances to score,” Mourinho said. “We are all very happy that the boys can go for their international week with the feeling [of winning].”
Spurs, who set alarm bells ringing at Old Trafford by winning 3-0 there six days ago, were unable to carry that momentum to Watford, who came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory at Vicarage Road.
Watford have won all four of their Premier League games and join Liverpool and Chelsea with a maximum total of 12 points at the top of the table.
Arsenal, meanwhile, joined United on six points as they secured a first away victory under Unai Emery with an entertaining 3-2 win at newly promoted Cardiff.
After storming out of his news conference following United’s defeat to Tottenham, demanding “respect, respect” from the media, Mourinho was much calmer ahead of his side’s trip to Burnley, and the approach may have brought rewards on the field.
First clean sheet
Mourinho will have been especially pleased by United’s improved defensive performance as they claimed a first clean sheet of the league season. Both the Portuguese and his squad will enter the international break with confidence that United’s worst Premier League start for 26 firmly behind them.
The only dramas for United this time concerned Pogba’s penalty miss and Rashford’s red card, but Mourinho wasn’t critical of either.
After Rashford was fouled in the box, Pogba — who has already scored two penalties this season — had his spot kick saved by Hart.
“I never blame a player for missing penalties,” Mourinho said.
“I blame the ones who refuse to go up there. Paul’s scored some good ones for us.”
It’s still early days in Emery’s reign as Arsenal manager, but Sunday’s win at Cardiff may prove a pivotal moment for the Spaniard. years is