Man U make most of five subs to Mourinho’s ire
London — Jose Mourinho was proved right. Just not how he wanted to be.
Having feared the temporary rule allowing two additional substitutions would benefit stronger teams, Mourinho saw Manchester United do just that at his Tottenham on Friday.
Tottenham's lead — secured in the first half by Steven Bergwijn — was wiped out in the second half after United made two double changes.
The most impactful was Mason Greenwood and Paul Pogba entering for the final half hour. It was Pogba who cut in and Eric Dier felt bundling him over was the only option. From the penalty spot, Bruno Fernandes netted to recover a 1-1 draw in the emptiest of venues since the English
Premier League resumed this week during the pandemic — the 62,000-capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It was Pogba's first appearance since Dec. 26. The three-month break in the league due to the coronavirus allowed the French World Cup winner to recover from surgery.
The need to pack in fixtures to complete the league by July 26 means teams are allowed five — rather than three — changes inside 90 minutes. It was a decision by the league, Mourinho claimed, advanced by the “powerful clubs.”
Just before Fernandes' 81st-minute leveler, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also sent on Nemanja Matic and Odion Ighalo — a striker originally signed due to the Chinese league being halted in January
in the country where COVID-19 originated. For good measure, Solskjaer introduced Eric Bailly in the 89th to complete the five changes.
“With the five subs I thought we are able to finish the game strongly,” Solskjaer said. “We had quality players to come on and make a difference.”
Mourinho's only changes in the 70th minute saw Gedson Fernandes and Giovani Lo Celso sent on. “I had some tired people on the pitch,” Mourinho said, “without options to change them.”
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