United in final flourish as Pochettino fails again
...as Pochettino comes up short again
THE most venerable performer in English football may be exiting the stage but there is still room for an older generation.
Mauricio Pochettino, 46, represents the best of upcoming, younger managers and, of course, he still exudes the excitement of potential. But Jose Mourinho, 55, just keeps setting his clubs up to win trophies.
He has won nothing this season yet. But he remains on course to keep his trophy counter ticking over. And his cussedness when it comes to lifting silverware can only be admired.
United looked as though they might be overwhelmed in the opening exchanges. But a Mourinho team is nothing if not redoubtable with a trophy at stake. Two were won last season; the cheapest two available but nevertheless they bought their manager time.
Mourinho had reached deep into his psychological playbook to ensure his team peaked for this game. He had spent the week challenging the failures of last Sunday’s defeat to West Brom — principally Paul Pogba, Alexis Sanchez and Ander Herrera — to prove their worth.
And he seemed to have judged it just right. All three responded, the latter two with goals and Pogba, after initial wariness, with a performance of authority.
Mourinho said: ‘We should ask ourselves why there is too many critics on all of us? We can finish second with six more points.
‘To do that, with all the fantastic teams we play against, will be an achievement for a club that couldn’t do it for a few years now.
‘And it will be a fourth final in three years. So, maybe too much criticism.’
Pochettino, meanwhile, must wait another season at least before collecting the first trophy of his managerial career.
He admitted: ‘I think every defeat is bad. It’s difficult to accept but we are disappointed we are out and cannot achieve the final.’
It took Spurs just 11 minutes to open the scoring. Ashley Young was attempting to pressurise Davinson Sanchez when the Colombian lofted a ball into the path of Christian Eriksen.
Eriksen’s cross was sumptuous, too dangerous for the keeper to attempt to gather but perfect for Dele Alli, whose timed run was delightful. He simply touched the ball into the net.
Phil Jones required a superb tackle in the 17th minute to clear from the feet of Alli when Son had teed him up for his second goal. Then Alli and Kane combined to provide Eriksen with a chance he struck just wide.
Mourinho looked aghast. Arms whirling, face contorted, he could barely hide his contempt. In the 24th minute, his high pressing gained its reward.
Kieran Trippier played out from the back to Mousa Dembele and Pogba was on to him. He wrested the ball away from the Belgian and lifted a cross on to the head of Sanchez.
The deftest of touches from the Chilean directed the ball past goalkeeper Michel Vorm.
Pogba would be denied in the 44th minute when he struck from 25 yards. And Eric Dier found the post after his strike came off Chris Smalling in the 45th minute.
United started the second half the better, Jesse Lingard causing Spurs’ hearts to flutter when Jan Vertonghen laid hands on him and he dropped to the ground in the box in the 53rd minute.
No penalty, referee Anthony Taylor correctly ruled.
But Spurs continued to create chances. Alli played in Kane in the 58th minute and he spun around Smalling and sized to shoot. But the United defender recovered to stick out a leg and deflect the ball wide.
No one ceded ground until the 62nd minute, when Romelu Lukaku won a long ball and flicked it on to Sanchez on the edge of the box.
It looked as though Lukaku’s stab at the return ball from Sanchez was inadvertent.
Nonetheless, it directed the ball to Herrera and he struck home decisively to give United the victory.