It was not a happy return to Old Trafford for Jose Mourinho.
His ‘revitalised’ Tottenham Hotspur team were soundly beaten, whether the margin of defeat suggests that or not, by the ghost of a broken Manchester United side managed by his unqualified and yet adored successor.
And it could have been more embarrassing for Mourinho who only narrowly escaped an embarrassing touchline tumble in the first half.
Harry Winks’ slide tackle on Daniel James sent the United winger into the Spurs technical area, where he viciously headbutted Mourinho’s knee.
Thankfully for Mourinho’s ego and health, he was able to stay on his feet and it was James who took the tumble down the bank towards the dugouts.
Winks ASF #TOTMUM
— Sway 🔰 (@SwayUTD) December 4, 2019
James 1-0 #Mourinho pic.twitter.com/SHpqfOrCWB
Winks ASF #TOTMUM
— Sway 🔰 (@SwayUTD) December 4, 2019
James 1-0 #Mourinho pic.twitter.com/SHpqfOrCWB
Winks was booked for the tackle and yet James went unpunished for his cowardly attempts to do Mourinho on behalf of his grudged teammates.
The Portuguese emerged from the incident with a limp, which is how you could describe the Spurs performance as two Marcus Rashford goals including a penalty cancelled out Dele Alli’s sublime equaliser.
