THE VERDICT: UNITED 1 BOURNEMOUTH 0
EMPTY seats around Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson scrolling through his phone. Romelu Lukaku barely breaking a smile after an increasingly rare goal.
Jose Mourinho has got problems beyond Pep Guardiola’s rampant City. He needs to remind United that the season is far from over - even if many believe the Premier League title race is.
A cold, wet Wednesday night in December felt exactly like that as the Theatre of Dreams slumbered its way through a 1-0 win against Bournemouth that had all the sense of occasion of a testamonial for the least inspiring of players. Sure it was never going to live up to the fierce atmosphere of Sunday’s derby, but Mourinho desperately needs to revive spirits in these parts.
He needs to remind the Old Trafford faithful that this is as good as its been since Ferguson’s retirement - that this place is all about dreaming the impossible can be achieved.
Mourinho insists he won’t give up the chase - even if City sit 11-points clear. But it will take more than this if that assertion is to filter through to the supporters who fill these stands week in, week out.
The sight of Ferguson lost in his phone during a dreary first half spoke volumes.
Lukaku - muted in celebration after powering a 25th-minute header past Asmir Begovic - only added to the feeling that this really didn’t matter. United need to snap out of that attitude and quick.
It’s their job to keep City honest, while staying on course for only their second top four finish since Ferguson’s retirement. True, that is a something of a fall from grace for the club that has dominated the Premier League era. But it is where they are at this moment in their evolution - however difficult that is to stomach.
The brutal truth is that the exalted heights of second place would be by far their best finish since they were last champions. Mourinho will know that but will also be aware that for United that isn’t good enough. Nor is it for him and the standards he has set throughout his career.
Which is why derby defeat was so wounding. Why much of his programme notes ahead of this game were dedicated to that match and the ‘clear’ penalty he felt should have been awarded to Ander Herrera.
He added that there was “no time to dwell on the last match,” but this had all the hallmarks of a classic hangover.
Lukaku’s first half header - clinically taken after Juan Mata’s cross - was the solitary moment of cheer for the home crowd, who were left nervously watching Lukaku (25) None 56% 44% 9 14 4 9 74,798 Lukaku Gosling, Arter Graham Scott as Bournemouth made a late fist of taking a point back to the south coast.
It was enough - just - on an evening when it was crucial to make a statement.
To reinvigorate the battle-weary souls who braved the mid-winter elements United needed a performance to stir the soul - and they’ll need many more between now and May to stop the season feeling like non-event.
They remain a club on an upward trajectory under Mourinho - even if that seems to have been forgotten in the slipstream of City’s flying start.
And that’s precisely the message Mourinho must get across.