Shocked Pog doesn’t know how United lost to Spurs
PAUL Pogba admits the manner of United’s 3-0 defeat to Spurs was a ‘shock’, but insists his side ‘won’t give up on anything’.
Jose Mourinho got the response he wanted from his much-changed side in the firsthalf at Old Trafford following that awful display at Brighton eight days previously – although they could not find that crucial opening goal.
United’s defensive troubles again cost them once Harry Kane headed Spurs in front from a corner after the break and Lucas Moura added a second just two minutes later. The Brazilian scored Spurs’ third six minutes from time to leave United in 13th place after three games.
The Reds have now made their worst start to a league season in 26 years, but Pogba has called for calm ahead of Sunday’s trip to Burnley.
“Even we don’t understand what happened. We started the game really well, we conceded two goals in the second half,” he said.
“The first goal was a real blow, we didn’t understand why, because we had the game in hand. One goal, two…we kept pushing, we had chances, and we conceded the third. The fans kept pushing us, they were really behind us. We feel really sorry for them, very disappointed, we wanted to do better.
“I think it was an undeserved defeat for us. In our desire, in everything we put into it. But football can be cruel. We just have to bounce back.
“It won’t be easy, but it’s just the start of the season. I prefer to start badly and end well than start well and finish badly.
“It’s bizarre. We were determined, we started well, and in the end we lost 3-0. It’s a shock. We have to keep going, we mustn’t worry. We must work. We are still Manchester United and we won’t give up on anything.” IT has been a difficult nine days for Jose Mourinho.
After seeing his side humiliated by Brighton, the United boss could only look on as those defensive frailties reared their heads again against Spurs on Monday night.
The Reds have now conceded six goals in two games and already find themselves six points off top spot with just three games played.
Last season, they did not suffer their second league defeat until November.
This is their worst start to a league campaign in 26 years and while Sir Alex Ferguson ultimately turned things around that season, winning the title in 1993, United are already up against it.
Arguably, Mourinho faces the biggest challenge of his career to do what he has never done before – steady the ship during a malaise and prove he has not lost his midas touch.
Here, we take a look at some of the questions on United fans’ lips.
WILL UNITED SACK MOURINHO? UNITED have no plans to sack Mourinho.
Ed Woodward, the club’s executive vice-chairman, only handed Mourinho a new two-year deal in January and M.E.N. Sport understands the board remain confident the manager can turn things around.
United travel to Burnley on Sunday in their final game ahead of the international break.
SO UNITED ARE NOT LOOKING AT POTENTIAL REPLACEMENTS? IN short, no.
Zinedine Zidane has been heavily tipped as Mourinho’s eventual successor but United have been adamant there has been no contact from their end.
“Why would we discuss Zidane when there is no job available?” a United source previously said.
And it is easy to forget we are only three games into the season. The curtain only came down on David Moyes’ doomed reign in 2014 when it was mathematically impossible for United to qualify for the Champions League.
Louis van Gaal, too, was given a stay of execution because the Reds were very much still in the race for the top four two years later – only an FA Cup final delayed the inevitable by a few days.
HAS MOURINHO LOST THE DRESSING ROOM? AFTER a terrible performance at Brighton, Mourinho got the response he wanted from his players in the first half against Spurs after an extended period working with them at Carrington last week.
His side played with the kind of intensity that has been sorely lacking and that will give Mourinho encouragement. The players are still behind him.
“He still speaks very highly of Mourinho, says he’s a very nice guy,” a source close to one of the players told M.E.N. Sport.
WHO IS TO BLAME? MOURINHO has spent more than £370m since taking charge, but this was the summer for United to outspend City and really push on if they were serious about ending their title drought. Business is good when it comes to the club’s commercial prospects – United’s share price has hit a record £20 per share – but Woodward did not give Mourinho the backing he expected after signing a contract extension earlier this year. Fred is the only new starter to arrive, so the onus is on Mourinho to get so much more out of Alexis Sanchez, Paul Pogba et al and he should be achieving that. Let’s not forget, Woodward has already delivered a pair of £30m centre-backs in Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly. But the players have to take their fair share of the blame, too. Pogba’s post-match admission that his attitude was not right against Brighton was worrying – particularly when United have been taught so many lessons by teams fighting for their lives in the last 12 months. You just worry about the overall direction of the club when the Glazers’ principal concern is just qualifying for the Champions League every season. Unfortunately, that shows no signs of changing anytime soon.