Anthony Martial’s 81st-minute goal gave Manchester United a 1-0 victory over Premier League title rivals Tottenham on a rainy Saturday at Old Trafford.
Here we analyse the performance of both Mourinho and Pochettino.
Shots – 11
Shots on target – 3
Pass success – 69%
Aerial duel success – 52%
Dribbles – 7
Tackles – 10
Possession – 45%
Martial celebrates his winner against Spurs
Shots – 13
Shots on target – 4
Pass success – 77%
Aerial duel success – 48%
Dribbles – 9
Tackles – 12
Possession – 55%
A dejected Dier and Alli
It was relevant prior to the game Mourinho talked up the importance of three points rather than his side going on the attack.
And while vintage Mourinho it was not, effective it certainly was as United strangled Spurs into just one clear opportunity before hitting them in reverse when it mattered most.
Credit to the Portuguese for changing his tactics as he switched to a more aggressive three at the back, returning Ashley Young to the left-wingback spot after he began the defeat to Huddersfield at right-wing.
The 32-year-old has enjoyed a bit of a career renaissance and arguably deserves to be considered the club’s starting left-back because his performance against Spurs was another impressive outing in the role.
But Young as a standout shows United’s impotency, particularly in the first half when the side was at odds with the home supporters given their tendency to sit back rather than attack on the front foot.
However, United in turn did nullify Spurs’s creative assets, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen were swallowed up by Ander Herrera and the excellent Nemanja Matic with Son Heung-min dropping further infield in search of the ball.
After the break United raised their game, though. They looked more purposefully as the game developed and they ultimately capitlised on a mistake from Eric Dier to get the reward of three points.
Mourinho gestures during his side’s 1-0 win over Spurs
Spurs retained their three-man defence with Son replacing Kane at the point of the attack and they were set-up to allow the South Korean to interchange with Eriksen, Alli and Moussa Sissoko.
But they did not preserve the same verve and fluency they’ve shown in recent weeks.
Son was starved of support in attack and the same can be said of Fernando Llorente when he was brought on past the hour with the visitors ultimately lacking a focal point without Kane in the side.
Granted, they had their moments with Alli guilty of profligacy when he failed to connect properly with Eriksen’s delightful dink over the top, but they just looked out of sorts.
The clash was hallmarked by gritty midfield play and that narrative meant either individual brilliance or an individual error would decide it.
Dier was culprit of the latter as he was nowhere near tight enough to Romelu Lukaku who was able to flick a header from David De Gea’s goal kick into Martial’s path to finish.
Pochettino will feel hard done by for not coming away from Old Trafford with at least a point but there’s no getting away from the fact they lacked any genuine potency in attack without Kane in the side.
A dejected Pochettino after defeat
Mourinho’s changes showed he understood how crucial victory was because he swapped out the ineffective Henrikh Mkhitaryan for Jesse Lingard just past the hour before the real masterstroke in the 70th minute.
Martial’s introduction for Marcus Rashford was the defining change as he coolly slotted past Hugo Lloris for the game’s only goal.
All four of the Frenchman’s goals in the league this season have come as a substitute and Mourinho is proving to be the ultimate archetype of the late goal.
The two changes from Pochettino showed his hesitancy to really get at United with Mousa Dembele and Fernando Llorente sent on for Sissoko and Son respectively in like-for-like replacements in the 62nd minute.
Neither really had an impact on the game and perhaps Pochettino will regret having not gone for it.
Man Utd 1-0 Spurs FT:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) October 28, 2017
Shots: 11-13
Pass accuracy: 70%-77%
Chances created: 6-12
Possession: 48%-52%
A Jose Mourinho special. pic.twitter.com/BhM6PRdBKM
It’s a Mourinho masterclass in the end as he the king of 1-0 wins against sides in the top six comes through but it’s fine margins because the Portuguese could have cropped criticism had it remained 1-0.
As it is, it’s a vital three points as United as they look to keep pace with Manchester City.
Hard to be too critical of Pochettino who will feel his side deserved a point but he will come to consider what might have been had Harry Kane been available.
