They still have a few issues, judging by the jarring boos when Marouane Fellaini, the player the crowd like the least, started warming up in the second half and Victor Wanyama might wake in a cold sweat when he thinks about the headed opportunity that could have changed the complexion of the match. Yet it was still an encouraging victory and a difficult afternoon for Tottenham Hotspurwas probably summed up the moment Dele Alli, the impudent young buck, tried to slip the ball through Michael Carrick’s legs. Carrick, the older man by 15 years, was much too wise for that kind of frivolity. The nutmeg jammed, Carrick came away with the ball and, ultimately, the home side could reflect on a satisfying afternoon, apart from the injury suffered by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, their scorer.
Mkhitaryan appeared to damage his left ankle as he tried to elude Danny Rose’s challenge late on and it would be rotten luck on the Armenian’s part if he is facing a long lay-off, having finally started to show why Mourinho was so keen to bring him to the club in the first place. His 29th-minute goal followed his effort against Zorya Luhansk in the Europa League last Thursday and, although Paul Pogba was the outstanding player, Mkhitaryan had shown again that he was belatedly adjusting to Mourinho’s demands.
Can this team find a way back into the title race? That might be pushing it but Pogba’s form is certainly encouraging and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s range of qualities make up for his lack of movement on the frontline.
United always look better with Carrick’s elegance in midfield and, defensively, it should not be overlooked Mourinho is having to make do without three-quarters of his first-choice back four.