Mourinho’s United took on the Spurs this Monday at Old Trafford. The Red Devils who were badly in need of a win to gain confidence and build up their winning momentum could not do so. Tottenham tore Manchester’s defence apart to ensure their third consecutive win of the season. The pressure keeps on piling on United’s manager with every passing game. It certainly seemed like a ruthless result was waiting for United after their performance against Brighton, the previous week. United continued their despairing performance in this season’s Premier League.
This time the porous defence of United was twinned with faulty shoots of the wingers’. What could have been a goal-goal draw or even a better result in the favour of United finished off as a brutal win for Spurs. United missed a chance one too many times. Lukaku missed a clear goal in odd 13th minute after a wondrous through ball. It was as easy as you could get and with players like Lukaku who can smash the ball even with goalkeeper standing in his position, missed a simplest of goals. Looks like Lukaku has made a habit of missing sitters. 3 easy misses in 3 consecutive matches.
The stats don’t lie. Manchester getting whacking 23 shots compared to Tottenham’s 9, but what was not commendable was the fact that both the teams had 5 shots on target. This clearly shows that United had the ball with them for a plenty of time but lacked the finishing touch and accuracy. We could see more balls reaching the hands of fans rather than oppositions shot-stopper. The first half was more tilted towards United with the Red devils getting a chance or two but the game turned around with Harry Kane’s perfect header in the top corner, that had left De Gea amazed. Kane’s header was sensational in it’s own way and also because of the soace he got in the box.
There was no stopping then. Tottenham kept on pushing in the box of United and Moura scored their second goal after a wonderful set up from Christian Eriksen. Again the same weak defence of United giving a clean shoot to Moura in the box, which went between the legs of defender. As always De Gea gave his best and denied Delle Ali a goal after Lindelof let him off. Delle Ali had almost confused the keeper before the agile Spaniard pounced back with his body saving a goal what could end into a 4-0 loss for United. De Gea though could not repeat the same off a thunderous strike from Moura which made the scoreline 3-0.
United’s defence when coupled with their lame forward play would surely end up more matches like this one. Mourinho will have a lot of questions to ask and to be asked. What is really going wrong with the Reds? Why are the world-class players underperforming? What needs to change, Mourinho or his tactics.
