Mourinho deserves top marks
MANCHESTER UNITED celebrated Easter weekend with their own resurrection at Old Trafford.
This was the ultimate test of how much progress has been made since Jose Mourinho replaced Louis van Gaal as United boss last summer.
In town were Premier League leaders Chelsea, who had beaten United twice already this season. That included a 4-0 drubbing at Stamford Bridge in October that left Mourinho humiliated, plus an FA Cup exit.
This time it was Antonio Conte’s turn to get a tactical lesson on an afternoon when the title race was blown wide open again.
Mourinho has had his critics this season, but this was an old-school managerial masterclass from the Portuguese.
Man-marking went out of fashion a decade ago, but Mourinho turned back the clock to leave the Blues looking out of date.
It wasn’t rocket science. He stuck Ander Herrera on Chelsea dangerman Eden Hazard and Matteo Darmian on Pedro.
Shadow
He rested Zlatan Ibrahimovic and unleashed Marcus Rashford on a defence that has kept just one clean sheet in the last eight games.
Like Rashford, Herrera was magnificent from start to finish, operating as Hazard’s shadow to snub out the threat of the Belgium ace.
Elsewhere, Marcos Rojo met fire with fire in his battle with Diego Costa, providing a fine example in the dark arts of defending.
The Blues were outfought, out-thought and outclassed throughout and it all left Conte doffing his cap to Mourinho – quite literally. The Italian chose the bizarre dress code of smart suit with baseball cap, but the headwear was gone once Herrera made it 2-0 to United a few minutes into the second half.
This could well prove to be a watershed win for United for several reasons.
It proved they can win big games without Ibrahimovic.
It proved United can beat the best team in the land and it showed us the levels Mourinho is working towards for next season and beyond.
This result gives United fans genuine hope that their team will be back at the pinnacle of English football under the leadership of Mourinho, whose name was chanted around the stands on what was easily his best afternoon since taking charge.
The Premier League trophy paid a flying visit to Old Trafford yesterday and was treated to a much-needed polish in the press room.
It’s a trophy that is used to residing in a different room in this neck of the woods.
But on this evidence, it might not be too long before it’s back where United fans think it belongs.