THIS IS CRUNCH TIME FOR JOSE
Real tests start now for United
DAVID BECKHAM would have admired the ruthless efficiency of it all, as he sat up in the Old Trafford stands. Sir Alex Ferguson, too.
Manchester United’s Treble winners set the club record of 19 points from the first seven Premier League games in 1999 that was equalled with this emphatic win over hapless Crystal Palace. The current United side have scored two more goals in the process. So much for Jose Mourinho’s cautious approach.
He was clearly irked by questions before this game that United have not come across any of their main rivals — and that will change soon enough — but this is the kind of opposition they struggled to put away last season. This year United are doing it with some ease. Six clean sheets in seven games, 21 goals scored. A draw at Stoke is the only blot on their record.
Mourinho’s side have hit the ground running in every sense. This was the fourth time in five games that United have scored inside the opening five minutes.
Juan Mata was the first on target against Palace, assisted by the excellent Marcus Rashford, before Marouane Fellaini struck twice and Romelu Lukaku equalled Andy Cole’s record of seven goals from his first seven league games.
Mata believes United have become a more clinical outfit, after relying too heavily on Zlatan Ibrahimovic last season. He said: ‘We’re being more efficient in front of goal,’ he said. ‘We’re not training more on finishing than last season, it’s just down to confidence.
‘Maybe it’s true that last season Zlatan was scoring almost every game and we tried to help with some goals, but he was very responsible for our attack. This season, everyone seems to enjoy the offensive duties. I think 10 players have scored already. Everyone is performing. As a manager, he cannot ask for more.’
Mourinho will demand more, of course. United face Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea in three of their next four league games after the international break.
No wonder he wasn’t getting carried away. ‘It’s too early,’ he said. ‘Seven matches.’
For Roy Hodgson and Palace, the picture couldn’t be more different. Seven games, seven defeats, no goals scored. They are in uncharted territory for any English club.
‘All I can say is that it’s been a chastening experience to try to compete against these teams and give them a game,’ said Hodgson. ‘Their quality is such that they are wiping aside most teams who come here.’