WEST HAM UTD MANCHESTER UTD HAMMOURED ’
Jose blames ref after Reds’ worst start in 29 years
IT MAY not be just Paul Pogba that Jose Mourinho has lost – but the rest of his team-mates too.
On a day when he needed a performance to prove his players are behind him, Mourinho got the opposite.
While West Ham were inspired, Mourinho’s shambolic side served up the sort of display that pushes managers towards the sack.
Another half-hearted display from Pogba for Mourinho was no surprise after his manager had told him he would never captain Manchester United again and then further humiliated him in a training ground clash in front of the TV cameras.
United now have just 10 points from seven games – the same as in 2013-14 under David Moyes – but a worse goal difference means this is their worst top-flight start since they picked up seven points in 1989-90.
And United delivered arguably their worst display yet at West Ham, weakening Mourinho’s complaints about the Hammers’ first and third goals.
“One goal is offside, the second goal is ■ West Ham enjoyed just thei in their last 20 Premier Leagu against Man Utd (D5 L13), alo victory at Upton Park in May an own goal and the third goal is the referee’s mistake, but for the next game we have to have a better start,” he said.
United were not helped by a tactical experiment that didn’t work.
Midfielder Scott Mctominay was deployed in defence.
He wasn’t United’s worst performer, but certainly didn’t justify the gamble.
And, with Alexis Sanchez axed altogether, another recent regular Jesse Lingard also missing and Anthony Martial chucked in for a first league start for six weeks in a front two, it felt like one of those final throws of the dice a manager makes when they are running out of ideas.
As bad as United were for most of the 90 minutes, Manuel Pellegrini’s resurgent Hammers were excellent.
The game was just six minutes old when the decision to field Mctominay in defence was in the spotlight.
Mark Noble played Pablo Zabaleta in down the right. The veteran full-back looked inches offside, but, according to the assistant referee, was being played onside by Mctominay and Zabaleta