Sports

Man Utd's latest display sums up why Jose Mourinho will be relishing his return


The Special One will be relishing his return to Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho makes his eagerly-awaited return to Old Trafford on Wednesday with Tottenham, a year after he was sacked by United.

And Mourinho, who has won all three games since taking charge of Spurs, knows his former club and successor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are there for the taking.

This draw made it three games without a win for United, who have regressed since Mourinho was sacked on December 18 last year, with the Reds in seventh spot.

Can these men out-think former United boss Jose Mourinho?

United are now ninth, eight points off fourth spot, with just four wins in their last 18 Premier League games, a team with no identity and little sign of any upward trajectory under Solskjaer.

They have two clean sheets in their last 25 Premier League games, are 22 points behind leaders Liverpool and just six off the relegation places, a gloomy scenario that shows no sign of improving.

Against that backdrop, a rejuvenated Mourinho will arrive at Old Trafford with a point to prove and, with United in such wretched form, few would bet against him making it four wins from four.

And there is no respite for United, with a derby trip to reigning Premier League champions Manchester City three days later.

Even with City stuttering in the defence of their title, it is hard to see United, on current form, taking anything from their trip to the Etihad Stadium.

Solskjaer and Marcus Rashford leave the field

Villa, with a solitary win in their previous 41 league games against United, took full advantage of the Reds’ current problems by taking the game to them from the start.

The visitors were fully deserving of their opener after nine minutes, a stunning strike from skipper Jack Grealish.

There seemed little danger when Grealish retrieved the ball on the edge of the area, with Andreas Pereira tracking him.

But Grealish shifted the ball on to his right foot before curling a sublime angled shot over David De Gea and into the top corner, leaving the United keeper no chance.

It was a goal of exquisite beauty from Grealish, his fifth of the season, and one which stunned the home crowd into silence, while the jubilant travelling Villa fans celebrated wildly.

Jack Grealish celebrates his outstanding opener

United toiled throughout the first-half, with no fluency to their play, but equalised three minutes before the break through a fortuitous own goal.

Pereira whipped in a superb cross, Marcus Rashford produced a glancing header, with the ball rebounding off Tom Heaton’s right-hand post, then off his back and over the line.

Rashford put United in front – although it went down as a Tom Heaton own goal

United were lucky to go into the half-time level, but showed greater purpose after the break, yet still lacked any kind of conviction in the final third.

There were sporadic moments of attacking promise, such as in the 61st minute, when AnthonyMartial and Dan James combined, only for the latter to over-hit the final ball.

That wasted opportunity should have been punished by Villa a minute later, when substitute Trezeguet’s cross was deflected into the path of Grealish, with only De Gea to beat.

Perhaps Grealish thought he was offside, which would explain the lack of conviction in his effort, which he sliced wide, but he was onside and it proved a key miss.

Read More

Mirror Football’s Top Stories

Two minutes later, United were ahead, Fred’s cross flicked on, with Victor Lindelof rising at the far post to score with an angled header.

The lead lasted two minutes, with Villa’s 64th minute equaliser coming from Tyrone Mings, with his first Premier League goal.

United’s defence rushed out as Matt Targett curled the ball in and Mings swept a majestic volley into the net, Brandon Williams playing him onside, VAR confirming the legitimacy of the goal.

Wednesday cannot come soon enough for Mourinho.

For United, it could prove a very awkward and uncomfortable homecoming.





READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.