Manchester United were put to the sword by players the Portuguese feared had ‘betrayed’ his work in second coming at Stamford BridgeJosé Mourinho has worn this haunted expression before – the one of utter bewilderment while battling back an inward sense of shock, with eyebrows raised in resignation at how powerless he had been rendered by his team’s abject deficiencies out on the grass of this arena. Retreat to the first half of last season and he had offered up the same facade to the world from a few yards further down the touchline as Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Southampton and Bournemouth came and ransacked what he had once considered a fortress. Related: N’Golo Kanté’s solo strike seals Chelsea’s rout of...
José Mourinho, who takes Manchester United to west London on Sunday, seems to have been affected by his final half-season at Chelsea more than he probably wants to let onIt was no doubt a relief to everybody at Chelsea, presumably, that when José Mourinho was asked where it had all gone wrong he referred to a Portuguese saying – não lavo roupa suja em público – and explained, possibly with his fingers crossed beneath the table, that it meant he would never wash his dirty linen in public when it came to his former clubs.True, it jarred slightly with his introduction at Chelsea, the second time, when he led a group of football writers into the boardroom at Stamford Bridge...
After a commanding performance against Fenerbahce in the Europa League, the midfielder will be urged by José Mourinho to make his mark against ChelseaManchester United are still looking for a first league win in October, and go to Stamford Bridge a couple of places behind Chelsea in the table, though at least José Mourinho can turn up at his old club with the satisfaction of having steadied the ship at his new one.Granted, United have been less than imperious thus far, whichever combination of players they have used. Not all of their summer signings have impressed and some of the football has been reminiscent of the long afternoons that brought an early end to Louis van Gaal and his three-year...
They used to be the main men at Manchester United but time is catching up as Fenerbahce’s Europa League visit to Old Trafford showedThe presence of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie revived memories of when Manchester United were last a force. Those halcyon days occurred three long years ago when a record 20th championship was claimed at Old Trafford on an April night. Van Persie’s hat-trick sank Aston Villa and Sir Alex Ferguson lauded the Dutchman’s second strike as the “goal of the century”.It was a sweet over-the-shoulder volley that Van Persie hit on 13 minutes to give Brad Guzan no chance. The provider? Rooney, whose placing in midfield during that season began the quandary over his best position...
The Italian is putting his own stamp on affairs at Stamford Bridge and showing signs of moving the club away from the influence his predecessor heldFor a manager who is commonly thought to be incapable of building a dynasty José Mourinho left a remarkably durable legacy in his first spell at Chelsea. Neither party, it seemed, could ever quite let go. Even as late as 2012-13 Mourinho was referring to Chelsea’s squad as “my players” which, to an extent, they were. Related: Antonio Conte at a loss to explain why N’Golo Kanté left Leicester Continue reading...