Was United fightback a Special one?

JOSE MOURINHO is about to find out if Manchester United’s comeback to beat Newcastle was his ‘Mark Robins’ moment where everything changes – or if it just papered over the cracks.

Say what you like about United’s performances and results so far this season, but after eight games they are below Bournemouth and Wolves.

No disrespect to either of those clubs, but United expect to fly in a higher orbit, and Stamford Bridge will be a difficult place for Mourinho to build on the great escape two weeks ago. A few sobering facts about his task at Chelsea might put his task in perspective:

Mourinho suffered his heaviest defeat in English football when United lost 4-0 at the Bridge in 2016.

The last United manager to win at Chelsea, in League or Cup, was Sir Alex Ferguson back in 2012.

It won’t be pat-a-cake – this fixture produces more yellow cards per game than any other in the Premier League.

And United have lost more Premier League games against Chelsea than any other side.

The big question, for me, is who galvanised the team to produce that fightback from 2-0 down against Newcastle?

On the pitch it was Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez (above) – three players who have allegedly not been on the best of terms with the Special One – who orchestrated the turnaround.

But were they inspired by Mourinho’s half-time pep talk or did the players simply take it upon themselves to take more risks in the final third?

We will find out at Chelsea today if they were playing for a manager under pressure – or motivated by the badge on their shirts and their own professional pride.