The Special One returns to Old Trafford.
How on earth has this happened? Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is still managing one of the biggest clubs in the world, and Jose Mourinho has left the Old Trafford dugout and moved to Tottenham. It’s been a bonkers few months in football.
Putting aside how weird it feels to see Jose managing Spurs—something which will take me a little while longer to get used to—it does seem to be a move which is already paying dividends.
Of course, Mauricio Pochettino was a resounding success in North London, but the feel-good factor around the place markedly dissipated over the course of this season, and Mourinho’s happy-go-lucky, ball boy-hugging approach does seem to be winning the hearts of Spurs fans. Three wins out of three probably helps, too.
So, things are all rosy again at Spurs. Manchester United, on the other hand, are being sucked into a whirlpool of mediocrity. The issues upstairs, coupled with Ole’s popularity amongst fans, has seen a strange environment develop: United have the worst manager in the Premier League (and fans, deep down, all know this), but would sacking Solskjaer really make a difference? I personally think it would, but Ed Woodward and his cronies evidently disagree.
But…to the football we go, and there’s only one result I can see on Wednesday: an away win.
While Untied have been faffing around with drawing against newly promoted sides at home and winning two Premier League games from their last nine (remember, this is Manchester United Football Club), Spurs have developed a nice head of steam under Jose.
The North Londoners have scored 10 in the Portuguese’s first three games, and while defensive lapses are becoming a worryingly commonplace, their back line is more likely to tighten-up under Mourinho than the goals are to dry out.
Remember, Pochettino masterminded a 3-0 away win in this fixture last season, and Mourinho will be oh-so desperate to repeat the feats of his predecessor against his old employers.
United have won just two of their last six home games in the Premier League, and look totally rudderless in almost every game they play.
Spurs, at 8/5, are the value.
Dele Alli’s rejuvenation under Jose has been well-documented. Mourinho has always loved a Number 10, and Alli fits the mould perfectly, and his improvement has been stark.
As a result, I’m backing him to score first at 10/1, with an each-way aspect tacked on to net a nifty profit should he find the net at any time.
David de Gea (through no fault of his own), has kept just two clean sheets this season, and this Spurs side will know full well how vulnerable the United defence can be.
Furthermore, Dele has scored three goals already under Mourinho (including the first goal against Bournemouth over the weekend), so he looks a very generous price to strike first in this huge fixture.
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