The second phase of their treble quest took place at Wembley where they faced Manchester United, who had just finished sixth in the table, 10 points behind their hated rivals.
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Watford have never kept a clean sheet at Old Trafford. Mata has been deployed mainly in the right-wing this season, and has adapted well to Mourinho’s style of play, something he could not do under the Portuguese manager at Chelsea.
“It was a very good (performance)”, he said.
“It was one of the best halves in the season because, from the first minute, we knew that we had to play with a high tempo”. He’s also popular and received an ovation as his chant was sung as he was substituted.
The Clarets had the better chances to take all three points but Courtois twice denied them, first when full-back Matt Lowton burst into the box and shot straight at him and then when striker Andre Gray applied a tame finish to an Ashley Barnes-led break. Blind is an intelligent and respected footballer, but he’s not the answer to United’s problems at that position. “They’ve got the personnel – it’s about going out and producing”.
Gary Neville has heaped praise on Anthony Martial, insisting he can still become a star for Manchester United. The top four is definitely still on the cards, but the fan base is split on how important this is. So as long as that run doesn’t extend to seven. United are 12 points behind league leaders Chelsea and didn’t even qualify for the Champions League. “Sixteen games unbeaten is an incredible record but it would be the flawless record with two or three fewer draws at home”. That’s the difference between pushing for the top four and being title favourites.
In a rather weird news circling the British media today, Anthony Martial is being tipped to quit Manchester United and join Tottenham Hotspur at the end of the current season.
Goals from Juan Mata and Anthony Martial secured the victory that also stretched United’s unbeaten league run to 16 matches, with their last defeat coming in the 4-0 thrashing by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Can you imagine Mark Clattenburg sunning himself on Venice Beach, the fake tan melting slightly over his Champions League and Euro 2016 tattoos in the Californian sun, his eyes obscured from view by sunglasses a couple of sizes too big for his head?
Rio Ferdinand believes Arsenal will have to pay £70 million to replace Alexis Sanchez if they fail to keep hold of him at the end of the season.
It’s a busy month with the boys having their sights set on three trophies (EFL Cup, FA Cup, Europa League).
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The Red Devils welcome AS Saint Etienne on Thursday night in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League last 32, before making the short trip to Ewood Park on Sunday for an Emirates FA Cup fifth round tie against Blackburn Rovers. The do-or-die nature cup football creates excitement.
