MAN UNITED 0, TOTTENHAM 3
The pressure intensified on Jose Mourinho as he suffered his heaviest-ever home defeat as a manager following Manchester United’s comprehensive loss to Tottenham at Old Trafford.
Two defeats in the first three games also represents United’s worst start to a season since 1992/93 when they lost their first two league games.
And Mourinho reacted angrily post-match to criticisms from journalists.
United’s manager said: “Today was proof that the best judges of football are supporters.
“We lost to Sevilla last season and were deservedly booed off because we were not good enough. Today they left and were applauded, and deserved it.”
Mourinho, who shook the hand of every player as they left the pitch, claimed it would not have been unjust if his side were 3-0, 3-1 or 2-0 ahead at half time.
He continued: “We created and missed chances, even an open goal, and at half time the players were frustrated but totally convinced we would win the match and even when it was an unexpected 2-0 result we kept playing until the third goal arrived.
“My message to the players was a positive message. I am happy, humbled by the supporters’ reaction.”
But persistent questioning was met by a stinging riposte from Mourinho as he walked out of the press conference.
“I have won three Premier League titles, more than all the other Premier League managers put together, Respect, respect.”
It was a grim night for United as Spurs won at Old Trafford for only the third time in 27 visits since the formation of the Premier League.
Three second-half goals, the first by Harry Kane, the second two by Lucas Moura condemned United to defeat on a night when Mourinho rang the changes following the abject display in the defeat at Brighton, making six in total.
Juan Mata, Anthony Martial, Eric Bailly and Andreas Pereira found themselves totally excluded from the matchday 18 while Victor Lindelof and Marcus Rashford were demoted to the bench.
There were recalls for midfielder Ander Herrera in a defensive back three, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones at centre back, Antonio Valencia, Nemanja Matic and Jesse Lingard.
The changes certainly had the desired effect straight from kick off when, after only 13 seconds Fred fired into the side netting.
United had another great chance following a wayward back pass from Danny Rose that was intercepted by Romelu Lukaku who rounded keeper Hugo Lloris but pulled his angled shot across the face of goal.
Spurs had a shout for a penalty when Lucas Moura went down in the box following a challenge by Jones while Dele Alli’s poor touch let him down when clean through enabling Chris Smalling to get back to cover.
United remained dominant as Fred had another decent effort, Paul Pogba forced a diving save from Lloris and Matic’s follow-up effort was deflected for a corner.
Spurs finished the half strongly as Christian Eriksen and Alli had chances in what was an absorbing opening period, the only surprise that it failed to yield a goal.
There was a lively start to the second period as Pogba fired narrowly wide for United while Spurs’ Kane forced a diving save from David De Gea.
But it then suddenly and dramatically unravelled for United as Spurs scored twice in 133 seconds to take control of the game.
The breakthrough came in the 50th minute when Alli’s shot deflected for a corner and Eriksen’s dead ball was met by Kane who found the net with a looping header from 12 yards.
It got worse not long after when Eriksen cut the ball back for Moura to sweep home a low shot from near the penalty spot.
Mourinho’s response was to haul off Herrera, Jones and Matic in quick succession to be replaced by Alexis Sanchez, Lindelof and Marouane Fellaini.
Lingard had a great chance to halve the deficit, but blazed over from 10 yards before Lindelof headed into the side netting.
Spurs had chances to add a third goal, notably when Lindelof’s wayward back pass was intercepted by Alli, but De Gea saved the day with a great block.
And from the resulting corner, Kane had a free header at the far post, but failed to find the net.
Spurs scored a third goal with six minutes left when Moura burst past Smalling and fired low past De Gea, a signal for home fans to make their way to the exit gate.
That was something Mourinho said he would have done himself, pointing out it can take two hours to get from Old Trafford to the centre of Manchester after a game.