COME ON MOURINHO – GET REAL
PREMIER LEAGUE Ron slams Jose hint Toffees are under-achievers
RONALD KOEMAN took a swipe at Jose Mourinho for claiming Everton should be fighting for a top-four place.
The Toffees slipped into the bottom three of the Premier League after a third straight defeat at Old Trafford.
Koeman’s side have conceded 12 goals in their last four games in all competitions, with the Everton boss rounding on Mourinho after their latest defeat that plunged them into further crisis.
Mourinho wrote in his programme notes having spent £140million in the summer that Everton “want to at least secure a top-four position this season” – a remark that riled Toffees boss Koeman.
He said: “I read the United programme and my colleague said about Everton spending £140m so they need to go for the top four.
“I’m sorry. If there’s anybody in this room and outside who sees this as something realistic and possible for this Everton then please comment.
“Be realistic. Let’s talk at the end of the season. I’m not happy how we started the season but please be a little bit realistic about Everton. It starts with everybody. We need time but that’s difficult in football.”
And asked what was a realistic achievement for Everton, who finished seventh last term, Koeman added: “The same as last season.”
Antonio Valencia got the hosts off to a breathtaking start as United’s all-time top scorer Wayne Rooney made his first return to Old Trafford – the day before appearing at Stockport Magistrates’ Court on a drink driving charge.
Rooney, 31, spearheaded Everton’s hopes of a point before tiring and being replaced late on. That change was followed by a dramatic collapse as Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Romelu Lukaku and a penalty from Anthony Martial secured the win to put United top of the table alongside local rivals Manchester City.
Both sides have the same goal difference but City lead the table ahead of United on alphabetical grounds. Mourinho said he’d not thought about City – who dismantled Watford 6-0 on Saturday – at all.
And the United boss insisted he was more concerned with his title rivals who had dropped points.
Mourinho said: “Today I didn’t think one single second about Manchester City.
“I thought about Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool. They didn’t win their matches so it was a chance for us to get two points like they got last week when we drew against Stoke.
“So I just thought about them not City. City won the game and did their job. I was thinking about the others and when I saw their results I thought it was an opportunity we can’t waste.”
United took the lead after three minutes. Nemanja Matic played a crossfield pass and as the ball zipped off the rain-soaked surface Valencia connected with a rightfoot shot that flew past Jordan Pickford into the net.
Rooney was given a warm reception from the home fans – some held up banners saying “Red Legend” – but it was not a memorable afternoon for the former England skipper.
He slid a left-foot shot wide of the post and in the second half shot straight at United keeper David de Gea.
Lukaku set up Mkhitaryan after 83 minutes to slide in United’s second and then against his club with league netted former his fifth goal as the game moved into stoppage time. Ex-United player Morgan Schneiderlin handled in the area and substitute Martial tucked away a late penalty.