A STROLL IN THE SUN(DERLAND )
Such a perfect day for Mourinho but 10-man Black Cats finally look to have used up their nine lives in the Prem
IT was just what Old Trafford boss Jose Mourinho ordered with a crucial Europa League quarter-final on the horizon.
Marcus Rashford finally ended his goal drought, scoring in the Premier League for the first time since September.
United strolled to a bloodless victory, collecting no injuries against a Sunderland side who played for more than a half with 10 men.
And bit-part players Luke Shaw, criticised mercilessly by his manager, and Matteo Darmian both got a muchneeded run-out, handing Mourinho (above, inset) more options in time for the business end of the season. Mourinho, who saw his side stretch their unbeaten Premier League run to 21 matches, has ordered United to go all out to win the Europa League, saying: “I don’t want our club to be happy fighting for Champions League places.
“We won the League Cup and now we will fight for the Europa League, and for the top four.”
Their top-four challenge isn’t over but the run-in is tough. They face Chelsea at Old Trafford next week, and then must negotiate trips to Manchester City, Arsenal and Spurs. Zlatan Ibrahimovic got the opener as United cruised in second gear on a hot day on Wearside. It was a trademark strike, the Swede using his strength to collect Ander Herrera’s pass on the edge of the box before turning to aim a low right-footed shot into the far corner.
Sunderland boss David Moyes will want to know why Billy Jones and Lamine Kone didn’t make things harder for him but there was no denying the sweetness of the strike, Zlatan’s 28th goal in all competitions in 43 appearances this season.
It is almost six months since United lost in the league but they’ve drawn far too many and that’s why they face such a struggle to finish in the top four.
This victory was achieved without David De Gea, out with a minor injury that will see him miss the Europa League clash at Anderlecht on Thursday.
However he’s likely to be back for the showdown with Chelsea next Sunday.
Stand-in Sergio Romero made a very good block on Victor Anichebe before half-time, though the Sunderland man was perhaps guilty of being a little too honest in the build-up.
United defender Eric Bailly had a nibble at tripping him and, if Anichebe had gone down, he may well have won a penalty.
Sunderland were also claiming an injustice over Seb Larsson’s first-half red card.
The Swede was harshly sent off for a studs-up challenge on Herrera.
Larsson protested furiously to referee Craig Pawson and his assistants. He went in strongly but wasn’t off the ground or out of control but the fact that
Herrera opted to pull out of the challenge made Larsson’s lunge look worse.
At least it gave the Black Cats a diversion from a spectacular fall from grace.
It is now 11 hours and 15 minutes since they last scored.
They’ve scored in only one of their last 11 league games dating back to mid-January. And they never looked like breaking down United yesterday.
After the break it was all United, who didn’t have to get out of second gear to extend their lead.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan made it 2-0 with a sweet finish.
He collected Shaw’s long ball and turned unchallenged onto his left foot.
Kone, culpable again, merely waved a leg to block the shot, which pinged through his legs and past keeper Jordan Pickford.
The only surprise was it took so long for United to get a third. Sub Rashford was teed up for a shot from an angle by Ibrahimovic’s hold-up play.
There will be no great escape for Sunderland, who have been clinging on to the Premier League for 10 years but who will soon be put out of their misery.
Having flopped at United and then Real Sociedad, manager Moyes (right) is now on his third problem job.
Somehow he has to inspire his players and prove he’s the man to supervise a Wearside rebuild.