Steve Bates
Chelsea assistant coach Marco Ianni foolishly followed suit yesterday and discovered the depth of Mourinho’s anger in an ugly end to the kind of match which makes the Premier League – and Jose – such a box office draw.
Love him or hate him, Mourinho has compelling qualities as a coach that simply can’t be ignored.
Park the bus? You must be joking. As is so often the case, United are at their best when they let loose.
Are they frustrating? Yes. Have they talent in abundance? Most definitely.
United were seconds from the kind of statement-making victory that would have ended all speculation about his future.
Yet, once again, it took adversity to bring out their best qualities with Paul Pogba (right) central to the plot and Anthony Martial finally showing us all that there really is a top-drawer striker in there somewhere.
There have been many examples of Pogba at his worst in a United shirt, but his appalling lapse of concentration for Chelsea’s opener takes some beating.
Sky’s entire half-time studio analysis team were steeped in Liverpool from Graeme Souness and Jamie Redknapp to presenter Kelly Cates – daughter of Kenny Dalglish.
But not even the most red-eyed visiting fan could accuse the panel of any Anfield bias as they focused on Pogba’s latest damaging blunder in a United shirt.
He cost them victory against Wolves and was at fault again, scandalously losing Antonio Rudiger at Willian’s corner and allowing the German defender to head Chelsea in front.
United had won only once in 16 visits to Stamford Bridge – a 3-2 victory in 2012 – and defeat looked on the cards as Chelsea played with a swagger in the opening 45 minutes.
But masterful Mourinho worked his magic at half-time, energising his team and sparking a comeback that is now becoming every bit a stock in trade as late goals under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Pogba stepped up as he so often does when the chips are down, Juan Mata used his brain in a midfield packed with brawn while Martial sparkled. The youngster has sometimes been Mourinho’s whipping boy but he delivered two cracking goals to give United the whiff of victory.
After game of pinball in the Chelsea box, Martial rammed home a clinical finish to equalise.
Then he scored a fabulous second when Mata and Marcus Rashford combined.
Ander Herrera might have made it 3-1 but in the depths of injury time added by Mike Dean, Barkley grabbed a priceless saver for Chelsea. Cue mayhem. But then, Jose was back in town.