Spurs move to joint top as Mourinho rages

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has called for respect after suffering the heaviest home defeat of his career.

Tottenham Hotspur's Lucas Moura celebrates with Harry Kane scoring his side’s third goal at Old Trafford. Picture: AP.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho called for respect after suffering the heaviest home defeat of his career as Harry Kane and a Lucas Moura double moved Tottenham joint top of the English Premier League with 3-0 win at Old Trafford.

A second consecutive defeat piles even more pressure on the Portuguese coach as United now trail Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea by six points and stand four adrift of champions Manchester City just three games into the new campaign.

The odds on Mourinho losing his job have been slashed in recent weeks. On top of adverse results, he has clashed with the club’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward over a lack of signings. However, he railed against his critics by citing his record of winning the Premier League three times over two spells at Chelsea.

“I won more premierships alone than the other 19 managers together. Three for me, two for them. Respect!” a fiery Mourinho raged at reporters.

Mourinho stood in front of Old Trafford’s Stretford End at the completion of the game to applaud the home fans, who didn’t boo his side at full-time despite the result.

“Today I had the proof the best judge are the supporters,” said Mourinho. The fans’ and Mourinho’s response came after a dominant first 45 minutes from the hosts before Spurs took control with two goals in two minutes just after the break. United, though, were left to rue a series of missed chances by ­Romelu Lukaku.

Tottenham hadn’t even scored in losing on their four previous trips to Old Trafford under Mauricio Pochettino. Yet the Argentine’s halftime words of wisdom made a huge difference as Spurs came out a different side after the break.

David de Gea had already ­denied Kane, and Dele Alli had seen a goalbound effort deflected wide by the time Kane rose highest from Kieran Tripper’s corner to loop a header into the net.

Hugo Lloris kept his place in the Spurs goal and retained the captain’s armband despite being arrested for drink driving in the early hours of Friday. And Pochettino’s faith in his skipper was rewarded when Lloris denied Lukaku again with a brilliant save to keep Spurs in front.

A minute later, they doubled their advantage when Christian Eriksen’s cross was swept home by Lucas Moura. He then rubbed salt into United’s wounds six minutes from time when he outpaced Victor Lindelof and fired into the far ­corner.

Mourinho was goaded with chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” by the travelling Tottenham fans.

AFP