ZERO TO HERO
Henrikh hits fine winner as Jose’s new United begin to find their feet
ANOTHER early exit, this time on a stretcher, but it won’t have hurt half as much for Henrikh Mkhitaryan. After Manchester United’s summer signing suffered the humiliation of being replaced at half-time on his debut against Manchester City in September, he had to wait another nine games before he was trusted to play in the Premier League.
Yesterday, he was carried off the Old Trafford pitch to a standing ovation, the victim of a poor challenge from Tottenham’s Danny Rose that is expected to keep him out of action for two games, but a match-winner all the same.
It was a second goal in four days for United’s emerging hero and his first in the Premier League; good news for Jose Mourinho, if not for the poor folk at the Manchester United megastore responsible for printing names on replica shirts.
His first goal in United colours arrived in the Europa League in Ukraine on Thursday night, a fine solo effort against Zorya Luhansk.
But this, a brutally clinical strike in the first half against Tottenham, meant so much more and not just because he became the first Armenian to score in the Premier League.
This was a game United simply couldn’t afford to lose if they were to stay in touch with the leading pack, even if December is a little early to be talking about must-win games.
Mkhitaryan’s goal means the gap is down to three points on fifth-placed Tottenham, who were left to rue a glaring miss by Victor Wanyama in the second half. Another three points separate Spurs from the top four and United will go into their Christmas fixtures against Crystal Palace, West Brom, Sunderland and Middlesbrough with a real sense of momentum. It may have been their worst start to a season in the Premier League era, but the feeling at Old Trafford is that the pieces are beginning to fall into place under Mourinho. There was plenty of evidence to support that argument here. Certainly, the pace in United’s play, the urgency to move the ball wide and commit players forward, could not be more different to what their fans had to endure under the stewardship of Louis van Gaal. Mourinho’s team, on the other hand, seem to be finding their feet; embracing a new identity. This, after all, was a first victory under the new manager against a top-four rival, following the defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea and draws with Liverpool and Arsenal. It was appropriate that Mkhitaryan should be the man to deliver it, given his recent transformation. Gone are the questions about United paying £26.3million to Borussia Dortmund for his services and Mourinho’s unfriendly treatment of a player who has been sharing the Lowry Hotel with his manager.
When the impressive Ander Herrera sent Mkhitaryan towards goal in the 29th minute, he looked like a man who backed himself to score.
It followed a scuffed pass on halfway from the largely anonymous Harry Kane towards Christian Eriksen. Herrera intercepted and slipped the ball in behind the Spurs defence for Mkhitaryan. He was onside and on his way.
Both Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld gave chase, but it was no good. Mkhitaryan steadied himself before despatching an emphatic finish beyond Hugo Lloris and into the roof of the net.
When he threatened to break clear again in the 82nd minute, Rose lunged in on Mkhitaryan — who had just been booked for a foul on substitute Harry Winks — and the United player’s left ankle crumpled beneath him. He required several minutes of treatment before leaving the field on a stretcher.
By then, United could have had the game sewn up.
Lloris produced an excellent save within the opening two minutes to turn away Paul Pogba’s side-footed attempt and denied his France team-mate with another stop in the second half. But he could only watch, rooted to the spot, when Pogba rattled the woodwork with a free-kick from 20 yards.
Vertonghen also blocked Mkhitaryan’s fierce effort and could have conceded a penalty for his challenge on Herrera, even though it would have been a harsh decision by Bobby Madley.
At the other end, David de Gea twice reacted quickly to keep out Eriksen free-kicks in either half and tipped over from Heung-Min Son. United’s defence were magnificent on the whole. But De Gea should have been beaten when Wanyama found himself unmarked in front of goal in the 55th minute.
Just who was meant to be marking the big Kenyan as Eriksen swung in a free-kick was unclear, but Anthony Martial was static and Pogba failed to track Wanyama’s run. The Spurs man met the ball with a free header on the edge of the six-yard box, but somehow managed to guide it into the ground and yards wide.
It was a horrible miss and one that will no doubt be preying on Mauricio Pochettino’s mind as he reflects on only a second league defeat of the season.
The Spurs boss has yet to win in five attempts at Old Trafford, where he made such an impression at the start of his managerial career in England with Southampton.
Instead of cutting United off from the leading pack, Mourinho’s side are now breathing down Tottenham necks. MAN UTD (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Darmian; Ander Herrera (Fellaini 90), Carrick; Martial (Rashford 72), Pogba, Mkhitaryan (Bailly 85); Ibrahimovic. Subs not used: Mata, Rooney, Blind, Romero. Booked: Valencia, Pogba, Mkhitaryan. TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Wanyama, Dembele (Winks 67); Eriksen (Nkoudou 83), Alli, Son (Sissoko 57); Kane. Subs not used: Vorm, Dier, Wimmer, Davies. Booked: Wanyama, Walker, Rose. Referee: Bobby Madley. Attendance: 75,271. Man of the match: Henrikh Mkhitaryan.