It was an exciting Sunday match between Manchester United and Tottenham. United still six points behind fourth-placed Manchester City scored a goal when Mkhitaryan raced onto Ander Herrera’s through ball and hammered into the roof of the net.
Victor Wanyama should have leveled with a header from six yards out although visitors Spurs created few chances despite plenty of possession. Paul Pogna though made it more comfortable for Manchester United when he hit a free kick against the post despite that United ended a run of three games without a win in the league.
It was a moment of disappointment for Mkhitaryan, who was taken off on a stretcher with an ankle injury in the final 10 minutes at Old Trafford and he has been ruled out until Boxing Day. Spurs, however, missed their chance to replace Manchester City in fourth and remain fifth, three points above United.
There had been a sense that Manchester United’s performance was improving this season without any promising result, particularly in the league. But with this match who is coupled with a positive result will give Mourinho hope that his side can now build on the troubling run of three wins in 12 league games. A defeat could have proven extremely costly to United’s hopes of claiming a Champions League spot and would have put them nine points behind the visitors.
Tottenham though has a good command of the ball and possessed it was not able to produce anything. It was certainly United as the dangerous side in the match through their counter-attacking pace of Anthony Martial, Herrera’s neat passing, and Mkhitaryan’s link-up play.
Finally, it was Herrera who was able to create a goal, dispossessing Harry Kane in the middle of the park and releasing Mkhitaryan while Pogba showed occasional signs of menace and forcing a fine to save from Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris after curling a free kick.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho: “After so many matches playing well but not winning, we needed more the points than the performance.”But I knew against Tottenham it’s difficult to get a result without playing well. But we played very well.”
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino: “I think it was an even game, a really competitive game. A game that was difficult to play, always at Old Trafford. “We created some clear chances to score but I think they were more creative on goal and from that they scored and we didn’t.”
