JOSE MOURINHO WAS left lamenting a “ridiculous goal” after one of the quickest strikes in Premier League history sent his Manchester United side on the way to a damaging 2-0 defeat by Tottenham at Wembley on Wednesday.
Christian Eriksen fired Spurs into the lead after just 11 seconds before an own-goal from United defender Phil Jones secured victory for the home side before the break.
Defeat left United second in the table but a huge 15 points behind runaway leaders Manchester City.
In the Premier League era, Eriksen’s express finish is tied for second-quickest with a Mark Viduka effort for Leeds against Charlton in 2001.
Only Ledley King’s 10-second goal for Tottenham against Bradford in 2000 and Alan Shearer’s after the same time for Newcastle against Manchester City in 2003 are ahead of Eriksen and Viduka.
“It’s a performance that starts with a ridiculous goal. That goal after a few seconds has a big influence in the game because Tottenham can play the way they like to play,” United manager Mourinho told the BBC.
“In the end we played against a very good team. Both goals were ridiculous goals.
“The first goal is an accumulation of mistakes in spite of the fact that everything happened so fast. My players have watched the Tottenham kick-off many, many times,” the Portuguese boss added.
“It was a really, really bad goal.”
- ‘Kills the team’ -
But Mourinho said conceding an own goal had done almost as much damage to the visitors’ morale as Eriksen’s extraordinary opener.
“The second goal mentally kills the team. A team to win matches needs to score goals and also defend well — on this occasion we were very bad.”
In the second half, Marouane Fellaini came on as a United substitute only to be replaced just a few minutes later but Mourinho said there was a simple explanation.
“He came off because he had something in his knee,” the Portuguese boss said. “Unlucky for him and unlucky for me. He came on with enthusiasm, but he has an injury in his ligament.”
Victory saw Spurs close to within two points of the top four and a Champions League place and Eriksen told BT Sport: “It feels a bit weird to score from your first touch. It was the perfect start to a game and after that we never gave it away. We had a lot of chances to score more goals, I think we had a strong game.”
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino added: “We always try to be aggressive from the beginning.
“Our aim is to be focused from the beginning. You can win a game if you’re ready to fight. It was massive to be up early in the game.”
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Why do we need him? He has proven to show just as much, if not, more inconsistency than some of the players in the United midfield. Under Jose, he’d just fall right into it.
Arsenal can keep him.
@Gavin Mitchell: Gavin it’s because our title challenge is fading at the ‘beginning of December’ apparently
@Mark Nugent: Even though City are indeed on fire, there is still a long way to go. If we are to catch them, we will have to win both games against City.
Those who told you that the challenge is fading haven’t a clue what they’re on about.
@Gavin Mitchell: December’s a busy month in the Premier League and anything can happen. City, although quite impressively with late goals from Sterling, have been scraping past teams in their last two games. The December/January period is crucial for United’s chances of catching City.
@Gavin Mitchell: what’s with all this “we” “us” and “our” craic?? Nothing wrong with supporting a club but you’ve no part in their organisation as far as I can tell.
@Gavin Mitchell: United and city were neck and neck at the beginning but in the past 6 weeks or so United have slipped to 8points behind. It doesn’t mean it’s over but to say their challenge is fading is a fair adjective to use. Don’t be so sensitive lads.
@Gavin Mitchell: Not a united or an Aresnal fan, but Ozil is just a class operator. Anyone who can get him should get him
@Lurfic: What is a football club without fans? hat should tell you all you need to know, Lurfic.
@Gavin Mitchell: I think you mean what would a business be without customers. I bet you don’t call Tesco “us”.
@Lurfic: The difference between both organisations Lurfic is that Tesco was set up as a business by an entrepreneur. United was founded as an actual club by community means without a business plan in place.
@Lurfic: And to drive that point home, Lurfic, football fans are NOT customers.
@Gavin Mitchell: and then United were bought by the glazers as a business, to make money from. And of course fans are customers, hence why tics, jerseys etc cost an absolute fortune. U can’t be that naive to believe that the glazers don’t see U and all of us as customers.
@Gavin Mitchell: Maybe not in your eyes. But that’s how the Glazers see fans, as customers.
@Mark Nugent: I had to read that sub heading again …..the fading title challenge ???? have these so called sports journalists got a clue ? Firstly its December , the business end of the season hasn’t even begun , if united had been on a losing slump , conceding lots of goals or getting too many draws and dropping points in recent weeks then you can legitimately claim the challenge is FADING , City are unbeaten and leading the pack but united are still there is any wobble – hardly FADING. Prob Some ABU disguised as a journalist – a fading career in sports journalism if this is the measure of quality ???
Will it solve the homeless crisis?
Mr Özil WILL NOT leave The Arsenal. We know he, along with Sanchez will sign new contracts in the spring. All this Utd stuff is nonsense. The Arsenal are not a selling club
@Whatshisname: Robin Van Persie
@Whatshisname: they’re not much of a buying club either.
@Whatshisname: handed man united the title selling them van persie … hello
Ugh….why is it only Man United linked with him ? Era no it’s grand thanks Arsenal. Don’t need a player that has one good game a month, if that.
Mourinho has shown, time and again, he doesn’t know what to do with a 10. The problem isn’t Mata or Mikhi, it’s his tactics.
well you mightn’t like his tactics but united were 7th most of last season and he has them in s steady second this year so he is doing something right – looking at the form guide and consistency of teams I would say its Spurs or Liverpool who have the FADING title challenge -not United
Out of contract, Arsenal can pay both players big sign on fees and write new 3 yr contacts without doing much damage to their wage structure.
Fu** off with that bollox, he won’t be near united
@Jordo: ah but would you bet your gaf on it Jordo.. ;)
@Jordo: Swap deal with Herrera mate ??
@G R: id rather have any Bohs midfielder than herrera
@Jordo: Fuad Sule > Herrera
@G R: yep
@Jordo: Ok so Jordo, what about, Lingard, Fellaini, Jones, Smalling, Hererra, Darmian and $30m. What say you?
@Nollaig Elliot: what about them? All average players