Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Anti-football, dull and ugly... but that’s how Jose wins titles
FOR ITS first match, they packed out the Kenny Dalglish Stand … unfortunately for them, it was facing the pitch.
Liverpool were poor but Manchester United were so negative that their supporters, after the final whistle, lauded Louis van Gaal like some sort of folklore giant. They celebrated the Dutch bluffer, performing media duties on the perimeter path, as though he was a reminder of a more cavalier time. Which, of course, he isn’t, although at least he had a crack when he came here as manager.
Jose Mourinho made a typically articulate fist of justifying what can be at best described as his team’s conservatism but it did not wash.
He rightly pointed out that Jurgen Klopp’s own lack of adventure contributed to the stalemate but it did not convince.
He insisted this was a match that some people might have found entertaining – but this contest was anti-football. There is only one person who could have found this entertaining and that was Jose himself.
He will probably wake up in a happy lather, dreaming about it, probably have it on a loop in his Lowry Hotel room.
After all, this might be a point that wins him the title.
There were mitigating circumstances. Paul Pogba’s ability to turn defence into attack was sorely missed and, don’t forget, this is a United team that had averaged three goals a game in their opening seven fixtures.
And the onus to make the offensive running is always on Liverpool at Anfield, especially as their need of three points was particularly urgent.
Klopp, as Mourinho pointed out, sent on three attacking substitutes but took three attacking players off.
It is a relevant observation.
Yet this is Manchester United we are talking about.
Surely, there has to be more adventure than this? Surely, the wave of confidence that has swept them up this season must allow them to take the odd risk against an underwhelming Liverpool?
Instead, Anthony Martial doubled up
Only one person could have found this entertaining and that was Jose-unbeaten himself. After all, this might be a point that wins him the title
as a full-back, ditto Ashley Young. For most of the time, it was defensive banks of four and five and good luck Romelu with whatever gets spat your way.
It was grimly attritional but nothing unexpected.
In two matches as United boss at Anfield, Mourinho’s team has managed just two shots on target.
Since taking over at Old Trafford, in half a dozen away Premier League matches against the rest of the Big Six, Mourinho’s record reads: Won 0, Drawn 3, Lost 3, Goals Scored 1, Goals Conceded 8.
That’s right. In two visits to Anfield and one each to Stamford Bridge, the Etihad, the Emirates and White Hart Lane, Mourinho’s United have scored just ONCE.
And for those United followers tipsy on the early-season goal binge, that is a stark reminder of the way Mourinho operates.
You have seen it for just over a season and despite the flying opening to this campaign, Mourinho is not going to change.
Make no mistake, you will see this again at the Etihad, again at Stamford Bridge, again at the Emirates, and he will probably try it at Tottenham’s temporary home.
Mourinho would be happy with a point at each of those venues.
That is the sort of coach he is and if yesterday’s approach changed anybody’s perspective, they must have been hibernating. His team sit second and
after eight matches, that is all that matters to him.
To give himself the best chance to sit on top of the pile next May. This, he believes, is the best way of doing it.
To United romantics, it is ugly. To impartial purists, it is dull. To those in the Kenny Dalglish Stand, it was frustrating.
But this is what Jose does and anyone who thinks he will ever do otherwise is a dreamer.