So Man United were 2-0 down to Burnley at Old Trafford today at half-time and looked amazingly composed throughout as Sean Dyche showed that his team is for real.
Burnley are 7th in the Premier League table only out of the Champions League qualification places by 5 points.
Therefore, pundits and football clubs around the country are recognising that playing Dyche’s Clarets is a serious challenge for all the Premier League clubs both home and away.
Burnley have beaten Chelsea, Southampton and Everton while drawing with United today and also Spurs earlier on the season but these 5 of Dyche’s results have ALL come away from home which makes them even more impressive and perhaps Mourinho’s side did not take them seriously enough.
https://twitter.com/utdxtra/status/945700480306556928
Matic, Mata, Shaw had very good games. Ibrahimovic shouldn’t get close to starting another game anytime soon.
— Red (@ThatBoyGiggsy) December 26, 2017
Also what these games show is how important Bailly is. Clears and does the dirty work at set pieces for us so often. We've conceded just 5 when he's started.
— Aidan Stephenson (@MelvinS7ven) December 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/ManUtd_HQ/status/945647687692619777
There is no question United were attacking hard in the 2nd half and trying to not only get level but go on to win the game as they completed 51 crosses into the box vs Burnley today which is actually the most the Red-Devils have crossed in a Premier League game under Jose Mourinho.
Burnley were resolute in the face of the 2nd half United onslaught and defended well to keep the point they would have hoped for if they were honest ahead of the game.
The star man and United saviour for the game vs Burnley was Jesse Lingard who came on at half-time in an inspired decision by the United manager.
Lingard of course justified his manager’s decision and scored a superb brace to rescue his side and and he was always looking dangerous and is clearly in the form of his life right now so Jose has certainly managed the young Englishman very well.
Lingard’s record this season has him scoring 7 goals in 27 appearances across all competition with 3 goals in his last 6 games. There was plenty of praise for the young wideman as you can see below…
https://twitter.com/utdxtra/status/945710349902327808
Lingard: “It’s disapointing, obviously we created a lot of chances, we should have won the game. We dominated the game so we’re disappointed. I’m on form at the moment, it’s great being in the team and helping the team get goals.” #MUFC
— MUFC Scoop (@MUFCScoop) December 26, 2017
Jose Mourinho took a more philosophical yet sometimes extremely direct approach in his comments on the game when speaking in interviews and you can see some of the highlights from him below where he made some legitimate comments and was backed up by the fans.
As you can imagine Twitter was captivated by the quotes after such a surprise result…
Mourinho: “One thing is a big club, another is a big football team, we are in the second year of trying to rebuild a football team that is not one of the best in the world.” #MUFC
— MUFC Scoop (@MUFCScoop) December 26, 2017
Jose: "At 2-0, it makes things more difficult at half-time. I need my players to believe in themselves and in me. But I'm very happy with their character." #MUFC pic.twitter.com/ieG3CNUDfi
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/utdxtra/status/945706670679879681
Mourinho: “Manchester City are buying full-backs for the price of strikers! The price for big clubs are different to the price for other clubs. The boys are doing what they can, they are doing fine. 8 pts from 15? Last 2 matches we had 15 chances and conceded 3 shit goals.” #MUFC
— MUFC Scoop (@MUFCScoop) December 26, 2017
Mourinho: "We are in the second year of trying to rebuild a football team you know is not one of the best teams in the world. Man City buy full backs for the price of a striker.” #mulive [bbc]
— utdreport (@utdreport) December 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/utdxtra/status/945705801284509699
https://twitter.com/utdxtra/status/945706484700246016
We think there is something to the fact that Mourinho is in the second year of a squad rebuild but it’s hard to cut him any slack when he has been able to afford some of the players he has signed in the transfer windows.