Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho called for respect after suffering the heaviest home defeat of his career as Harry Kane and a Lucas Moura double moved Tottenham joint top of the Premier League with 3-0 win at Old Trafford.
A second consecutive defeat piles even more pressure on the Portuguese coach as United now trail Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea by six points and stand four adrift of champions Manchester City just three games into the new campaign.
The odds on Mourinho losing his job have been slashed in recent weeks as on top of adverse results, he has clashed with the club’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward over a lack of signings.
However, he railed against his critics by citing his record of winning the Premier League three times over two spells at Chelsea.
“I won more Premierships alone than the other 19 managers together. Three for me, two for them. Respect!” a fiery Mourinho raged at reporters on exiting his post-match press conference.
Mourinho stood in front of Old Trafford’s Stretford End at the end of the game to applaud the home fans, who didn’t boo his side at full-time despite the result.
“Today I had the proof the best judge are the supporters,” Mourinho said.
The fans and Mourinho’s response came after a dominant first 45 minutes from the hosts before Spurs took control with two goals in two minutes just after the break.
United, though, were left to rue a series of missed chances by Romelu Lukaku, particularly when the Belgian fired wide with an open goal on 15 minutes.
– Second-half surge –
Tottenham hadn’t even scored in losing on their four previous trips to Old Trafford under Mauricio Pochettino.
Yet, the Argentine’s half-time words of wisdom made a huge difference as Spurs came out a different side after the break.
David de Gea had already denied Kane and Dele Alli had seen a goalbound effort deflected wide by the time Kane rose highest from Kieran Trippier’s corner to loop a header into the net.
Hugo Lloris kept his place in the Spurs goal and retained the captain’s armband despite being arrested for drink driving in the early hours of Friday.
And Pochettino’s faith in his skipper was rewarded when Lloris denied Lukaku again with a brilliant save to keep Spurs in front.
A minute later, they doubled their advantage when Christian Eriksen’s cross was swept home by Lucas.
“It is a massive victory for us and I am very proud of the performance,” said Pochettino. “It is difficult to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford. They were better in the first half but we dominated from then on.”
Mourinho encroached onto the pitch to bellow encouragement to his charges. But the damage had already been done and the final reckoning could have been even more embarrassing for the hosts.
Lindelof, on for the injured Jones, was handed a reprieve when De Gea denied Alli after a short back pass by the Swede before Kane headed wide when unmarked from another corner.
Lucas did rub salt into United wounds six minutes from time when he outpaced Lindelof before firing into the far corner.
Mourinho was goaded with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” by the travelling Tottenham fans.
Woodward is not expected to bite the bullet quite so soon. But with United already facing an uphill battle just to make the top four nevermind challenge for the title, time is running out for Mourinho to get the 20-time champions of England back on track.
Discussion about this post