Gone in 10.5 seconds. Precisely.
Jose Mourinho spoke about having the ammunition to compete but this was a night in which Manchester United’s big guns fired blanks; a night in which they fell behind to Tottenham Hotspur in the very first attack and struggled to compete after that.
It was a night in which new signing Alexis Sanchez, making his first Premier League start, Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and, especially, Paul Pogba struggled. Pogba, a bag of indiscipline in a deeper midfield role that required far more nous, barely lasted an hour before being hooked. Big names, big signings, big fail against a Spurs side orchestrated imperiously by Christian Eriksen. United back-fired.
Mourinho lashed out at his players for failing to follow instructions but the manager, too, got it wrong. He has to decide how he is going to use Pogba because, like this, his team were far too open. They were far too un-Mourinho like. Wrong formation, wrong tactics and defensively United were a shambles with the central pairing of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling struggling to cope. Jones was simply bullied by Harry Kane. And this in front of a Wembley crowd of 81,978 – a new Premier League record.
Spurs needed to win – and needed to win against one of their rivals - and did just that, opening up a six-point gap ahead of sixth-placed Arsenal and reducing their deficit behind second-placed United. Spurs were better-organised and wanted this more.
It means just five points separate the four teams behind runaway leaders Manchester City.
It's was deadline day disappointment for Manchester United at Wembley.
Alexis Sanchez made his Premier League debut for his new club but Jose Mourinho's side lost 2-0 to Tottenham in the capital.
Christian Eriksen scored after 11 seconds and an own goal from Phil Jones made the points safe for the hosts before half time.
Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Nemanja Matic, Antonio Valencia and Jones all returned to the starting line-up after getting a rest at Yeovil but United were unable to respond to the Spurs press.
Mourinho picked an attacking line-up featuring Romelu Lukaku and Jesse Lingard as well as Sanchez and Martial but United were unable to trouble the Spurs defence throughout the 90 minutes.
Marouane Fellaini came on as a second half sub and lasted seven minutes but appeared to pick up a knock.
United are next in action at home to Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
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Jose Mourinho will prioritise additions in central midfield this summer.
Manchester United brought in Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal earlier this month with Mourinho recently talking up his attacking options.
But with Michael Carrick set to retire in the summer and the uncertainty surrounding Marouane Fellaini, Mourinho has switched his attention towards the middle of the park, reports the Manchester Evening News.
"I think in attack it's very difficult for us to improve. Where are we going to get a better combination of players than we have?" he said.
(Image: Harry Trump)
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
"We cannot buy Messi, we cannot buy Crsitiano. These are the best players of the last decade. Where can we get better players than Mata, Martial, Lingard, Rashford, Sanchez, Lukaku? So, in attack, we have an amazing group of players.
"In midfield Michael Carrick will be not the No.16. Who will have Michael Carrick in his shirt next season, so we lose a player. It's there in midfield where we need to improve but to get a player to compensate the situation of Michael.
"If Fellaini leaves we have two gaps there so let's see what happens. But in relation to Fellaini the good thing is he wants to stay with us and we would like him to stay with us. To sign a contract the person must be happy and let's see."
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
United come up against Spurs at Wembley on Wednesday night as they look to keep the pressure on leaders Manchester City.
Mauricio Pochettino has earned plaudits for the job he has done in north London and Mourinho believes he could go on to manage one of football's super clubs, having been tipped to manage both United and Real Madrid one day.
"I think he has. I think he is already at a big club as a start," he added.
"I look at Spurs' history and I don't see a small club at all. I see a big club with big expectations and dreams to achieve. I think he's having that experience already at the highest level, Premier League and Tottenham Hotspur, we are speaking about high level football club, high level competition.
"So yes, I see him at Spurs for many years. I also see him leaving and having a very good career at other clubs."
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Alexis Sanchez is set to make his first Premier League appearance for Manchester United as they face Tottenham at Wembley on Wednesday.
The Chile forward, who joined United from Spurs' north London rivals Arsenal last week, made his debut in the FA Cup fourth-round win at Yeovil on Friday.
Jose Mourinho insists Sanchez would have "no problem" dealing with a potentially hostile reception from Spurs fans.
United have no fresh injury concerns, meaning that the long-term casualties of striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic (knee) and defender Eric Bailly (ankle) are the only absentees.
(Image: Man Utd via Getty Images)
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has frequently been linked with Real Madrid and Mourinho - a former boss at the Bernabeu - believes he could excel elsewhere.
He said: "I look at Spurs' history and I don't see a small club at all. I see a big club with big expectations and dreams to achieve.
"I see him at Spurs for many years. I also see him leaving and having a very good career at other clubs."
Provisional XI: De Gea, Valencia, Jone, Rojo, Young, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Sanchez, Martial, Lukaku
