Southgate shrugs off Alli fears
SUPERSTITIOUS Manchester United fans might have feared the worst when they saw the colour of the kit their team was wearing.
It was the first time United had worn a grey kit since their infamous half-time shirt swap at Southampton in 1996, on the orders of an enraged Alex Ferguson.
United went in 3-0 down at half-time that day, Fergie convinced it was because his players had trouble picking each other out in their unfamiliar strip.
Ferguson’s side duly changed into an alternative blue-and-white kit for the second-half and fared better after the break, although they still lost 3-1.
But United asserted themselves here from the start and put at ease any fans’ fears over the return of the grey kit. Indeed, there was a perfect symmetry to 21 years ago, with United reversing the scoreline from that notorious episode in Southampton, going in 3-0 up at half-time here with the game wrapped up. The new kit features a silhouette of the Holy Trinity statue of legends Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best and Denis Law, with Mourinho’s side living up to the attacking heritage embodied by that iconic triumvirate.
Romelu Lukaku continued his scoring exploits, taking his total to 10 in nine games, while Anthony Martial was at his marauding best. The Frenchman provided assists for both of Lukaku’s first-half goals, as well as converting a penalty himself, either side of them.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (above) was the axis for United’s fine display, operating across the front line with real influence.
The midfielder deservedly got on the scoresheet with United’s fourth goal, before his withdrawal on the hour.
Mourinho may have urged his players to be “humble” on the eve of this game, warning there will be sticky moments when things don’t go their way or they lose form and they have to dig deep.
But when United play like this, with such a swagger – even though CSKA Moscow managed to get the late consolation goal to make it 4-1 – humility is not a trait they need to embrace. GARETH SOUTHGATE will today name Dele Alli in his England squad – despite the threat of him facing a FIFA ban.
Alli could face up to a four-game ban after his middle-finger gesture during England’s win over Slovakia at Wembley and FIFA have begun their disciplinary hearing.
They are expected to communicate Alli’s punishment to the Football Association today.
But FA bosses and Southgate are confident that, at worst, Alli will get a one-match ban and are hopeful he could get cleared by the investigation. They are preparing to include him for the qualifiers with Slovenia and Lithuania.
Leicester striker Jamie Vardy will again be in the squad but isn’t resigned to just being an understudy for Harry Kane.
Vardy said: “He’s been in fine form, but you have to show you’re playing well to put yourself in the picture.”