RED DEVILS’ PALE VICTORY
BUT MARTIAL MAKES HIS MARK
MY weekend was supposed to have played out in the following way – Manchester United crush Liverpool, Roberta Vinci crowned US Open women’s champion and Valentino Rossi clinches San Marino MotoGP title.
I really can’t complain about the actual tennis and MotoGP outcomes, because Flavia Pennetta deserved to win while Rossi maintains a healthy championship lead even though he finished fifth on Sunday.
I’m obviously delighted that the Red Devils made light work of their arch-rivals but let’s be honest – it was one of the flattest matches we’ve seen in recent years!
Five years ago I was at Old Trafford when Dimitar Berbatov scored a hat-trick in what was a very entertaining match that literally had me on the edge of my seat, whereas this time around I had to force myself to stay awake.
Luckily, it wasn’t a complete waste of my time, with some notable moments in the second half that included a stunning Daley Blind goal, Ander Herrera’s penalty, a jaw-dropper by Christian Benteke and the much-talked about solo effort by debutant Anthony Martial.
After all the negative headlines and the big fat question marks over the fee paid for the young Frenchman, it was just so pleasing to watch him carry that weight on his shoulders as effortlessly as he did, to score in his very first appearance – in front of the Stretford End, to boot.
Commentator Peter Drury summed it up quite nicely when he said, “the boy can play”, and even though it’s just one game, I’m hoping he lives up to his billing as the next Thierry Henry because United is long overdue a talent like that, especially after a few seasons of flops.
Like Louis van Gaal, I certainly hope that this was the performance to kick-start United’s season, because they have been mediocre thus far and it’s only going to get more challenging during the course of the Champions League.
I’m not sure if alarm bells are ringing at Liverpool just yet, but I really think they should be.
Two seasons ago, they were challenging for the league title, but you would be inclined to think the opposite based on recent results and performances.
I don’t see how they can’t be worried about how this season is unfolding – they were poor, flat and not as feisty as in previous years.
It’s difficult to use such adjectives when talking about a historic clash between these two clubs – this used to be a defining fixture for both clubs, players, fans and the league and now it’s just another game with perhaps more fanfare on show elsewhere on match day, and that is just a sad indictment on the state of both clubs. REIGNING champions Chelsea are in a spot of bother too, having endured their worst start to a top-flight season in 29 years.
Jose Mourinho is just nonsensical these days, detached from the truth, bemusing and predictably defiant.
He claims there isn’t pressure and is hoping for a response from his team during the Champions League, but it has been an all-round (defence, midfield and attack) shockingly poor performance that borders on relegation form, rather than that of champions.
Next up for the Blues is a home game against Arsenal, a result that could either resurrect their season or send them into a tailspin of crisis. Mourinho isn’t giving away anything at this stage, but I would love to know what the problem is!
And, I’m keen to see if Roman Abramovich is going to let this play out and give Mourinho time, bearing in mind the contract extension signed earlier this year that keeps the Portuguese at the club till 2019, or if he will be tempted to cut his losses now.
I can’t help but think that there was some kind of indication that all wasn’t well at Chelsea during preseason, when they failed to win any of their five friendlies.
Obviously no-one pays much attention to those results, but those results combined with their horrible start to the English Premier League season certainly indicate that there is much more going on than we are aware of.
The suspense really is annoying me!