Jose is in the headlights again

The pressure is on Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho as his team heads to London tomorrow with former United star Paul Scholes saying it’s time Jose showed he’s as good as he claims.

ose Mourinho has had a week’s respite from newspapers - or was it we who were spared from having to read about him - while the footballing world turned its attention to national team matters.

But now that the players are all headed back to their clubs and domestic football returns to the agenda, so the “unloved one” is again the focus of attention.

He takes his beleaguered Manchester United side to Stamford Bridge for the early kick-off game in the English Premier League tomorrow in dire need of a sparkling performance to get his side’s campaign back on track and keep his own position intact.

Chelsea have an unbeaten record this season and will be favourites for the match as Mourinho has lots to work on if he is going to triumph against his former employers.

For a start, United have among the worst defences in the league. Their 14 goals conceded puts them in the bottom five of the leakiest defences with a goal difference of minus one. They also do not feature among the top five in terms of shots on goal, reflecting their pedestrian style that contrasts with the attacking days of Alex Ferguson.

United are also the only “big six” side not among the top teams at keeping possession. Chelsea and Manchester City are the only teams to make it over the 60 percent mark, leaving little wonder why they are both on the same points at the top of the table. The two highest-scoring teams in the league share the ability to turn possession into chances, and chances into goals.

It is crunch time for the Red Devils and much hinges on the manager upping his game. Old Trafford legend Paul Scholes summed up the situation superbly this week: “I loved watching (Mourinho’s) interviews, his cockiness. I thought he was brilliant, but that Jose has gone. Now it’s just a moaning Jose, which frustrates you.

“He’s moaning at his players and what he hasn’t got. But look what he does have. He tells people he’s the best coach, so he should now prove that.”