THE Premier League table does not lie.
Jose Mourinho is already eight points behind Pep’s free-scoring Manchester City side. That hurts.
So, too, does a defeat like this. To Chelsea. To the champions. To Antonio Conte. You just know how much Jose Mourinho will hate a setback like this.Stamford Bridge used to be his home, a fortress for the Special One when he was managing Chelsea. Not any more.
It was nothing like last season’s 4-0 tonking, but one will do when it is Mourinho and Manchester United. Alvaro Morata got it ten minutes into second half, separating these two sides when he latched on to Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross from the right. He celebrated on one knee, pulling back on an imaginary bow and arrow before taking aim in front of the delirious fans in the Matthew Harding Stand. Morata hit the bullseye here. This is a recovery, reaching out to the fans again after they capitulated in Rome on Tuesday. Beating the Special One will make them feel a whole lot better about life again.
“Champions of England, we know what we are” they sang after Morata’s strike. At times, they played like them.
Eden Hazard, at times, was back to his dreamy, silky skilled best. Contempt, animosity and anger is still festering between Hazard and the Special One. Neither of them could even contemplate skin on skin. Hazard did not look up and Mourinho slipped his hand in his pocket as the two sides marched out of tunnel. That is what this game does to people. It makes enemies, with the resentment stretching back to Mourinho’s final few weeks in charge of Chelsea.
Hazard was a target on the pitch too, riding one hefty challenges from Phil Jones and Ander Herrera at the start of the second half. They were both booked, deservedly so. In his own mind Judas is still No1, with those three Premier League titles in two separate spells keeping him out in front. Those Chelsea fans singing “sit down Mourinho” and rising to acclaim “Antonio” have other ideas. The champions responded, spluttering into life after being walloped 3-0 by Roma in the Champions League. Hazard’s touches were decent, as was the shot directed straight at David De Gea 18 minutes in.
By then the ball had already been in the United net when Phil Jones steered Marcos Alonso’s cross beyond De Gea. Referee Anthony Taylor ruled it out, with Alvaro Morata penalised when for giving Jones a nudge just as the United defender made contact. At least this was a different Chelsea to the side who surrendered against Roma in the Champions League last Tuesday.
It was the night Conte lost control.
This looked a lot better, with a bit of the old title-winning Chelsea about them.
Mourinho’s return, whatever they feel about him down here, was always going to provide additional motivation.
He just has that kind of effect.
Hazard was super-charged, forcing another save out of De Gea when he caught the ball on the half-volley inside the area.
It was starting to heat up.
The Special One needed to win here, to keep breathing down the necks of Manchester City after their cosy 3-1 victory over Arsenal.
From The Sun
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