THE VERDICT: BRIGHTON 3 UNITED 2 Don’t say he didn’t warn you
MOURINHO’S FEARS THAT THE REDS ARE SET FOR A ‘DIFFICULT SEASON’ ALREADY LOOK ACCURATE AFTER LACKLUSTRE SHOW AGAINST SEAGULLS
WHEN Jose Mourinho warned United faced a ‘difficult season’ in Munich he could not have imagined he would encounter such acute difficulties just two weeks later.
The green shoots of progress sewn against Leicester were shredded by Brighton on an acrimonious afternoon that leaves the Reds’ hierarchy in a more invidious position.
Ed Woodward watched Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly strengthen Mourinho’s argument that the squad needed reinforcing in defence in a calamitous first half. What is it about Lindelof at recently promoted clubs with blue and white stripes? The Swede regressed to the nadir of his Huddersfield horror show in a haphazard half where his positioning gifted Glenn Murray and Shane Duffy goals. Eric Bailly, Mourinho’s other centre-half addition, then rashly conceded a penalty which defeated the diving David de Gea.
The incumbent United defenders might have had more protection from a specialist defensive midfielder yet Andreas Pereira, Fred and Paul Pogba only wanted to attack.
How ironic that United missed Nemanja Matic’s discipline; the Serbian was signed aged 29 last year and it is that profile of player the United board abhorred this year. They vetoed Mourinho’s recommendation they invest in the 29-year-old Toby Alderweireld, and Ivan Perisic and Willian are two others who got away. You can guess how old they are.
Board and manager are not entirely on the same page but make no mistake about who the supporters back. Mourinho’s name was aired defiantly, albeit at 0-0, and he must never have expected to have only one outfield summer signing available in United’s second match of the term. Neither did the fans who embarked on a 500-mile round trip yesterday. They deserved much better than this.
Mourinho was so disgusted by the first 45 minutes at the Amex Stadium he disappeared down the tunnel before it had ended.
United’s midfield imbalance was exposed by a motivated Brighton. There was only so long they could flourish with a playmaker as a holding midfielder and Pereira was substituted at half-time.
Fred was overwhelmed, Paul Pogba switched back to cruise control, Ashley Young and Romelu Lukaku left a trail of ring-rust, while Juan Mata was anonymous. Anthony Martial returned four weeks after Mourinho paraphrased The Rolling Stones in response to his desire for a transfer. There was little satisfaction to be derived from his return.
United’s supporters were incessantly vocal and demanded the team ‘attack, attack, attack’ past the 70-minute mark yet even with a team that recovered from Murray (25), Duffy (27), Gross (44 pen) Lukaku (34), Pogba (90 pen) 33% 67% 9 5 6 3 30,592 Murray Martial Kevin Friend two-goal deficits at Crystal Palace and City earlier this year the cause this time felt lost. Lukaku headed past Mat Ryan in the 34th minute to spark hope but Bailly upended and Gross reopened the twogoal advantage.
It is difficult to think of a worse attacking half than the yesterday’s second period under Mourinho and United managed one attempt on target with the scoreline at 3-1 until Marouane Fellaini earned a 94th minute penalty. Pogba converted and it flattered United.
“Can we play you every week?” the Brighton fans chirped, before heckling the away end with a rendition of ‘Your city is blue.’
Mourinho had warned Woodward.