14 points from eight games isn’t a stat any manager that spent close to £200 million in the transfer market will be proud of yet this is exactly the predicament Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho finds himself after the funfair by fans after his appointment as Louis Van Gaal’s successor in the summer.
On Sunday, United travel to West London to face an in form Chelsea side who have scored three goals each in their last two games against Hull City and Leicester City at the same time keeping a clean sheet in both games. United on their own are struggling having drawn their last two games in the league scoring a lone goal against the likes of Stoke City and Liverpool.
This season, United’s form appear to have nose dived considering they started the season with three wins In three games scoring six goals and conceding only one against Bournemouth, Southampton and Hull City before struggling thereafter and losing against Manchester City and Watford.
Mourinho is expected to set out his team in his favoured 4-3-2-1 formation after the morale boosting 4-0 demotion of Dick Advocaat’s Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Wednesday night. David De Gea is expected in goal after his impressive displays this season have seen him making a claim for the goalkeeper of the season.
Daley Blind should return to the left back position, with Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly continuing to enjoy their partnership in central defence while Antonio Valencia returns for Darmian after missing out against Fenerbahce in the Europa League.
In central midfield, Paul Pogba is expected to retain his place after scoring a double on the Wednesday night enjoying his freedom to play as a box-to-box midfielder building the attack from the deep with Ander Herrara who was United’s best outfield player against Liverpool returning in place of Michael Carrick to shield the defence and partner Pogba.
In attack, Marcus Rashford is expected to play on the right with Anthony Martial retaining his spot after his goal and impressive display against Fenerbahce leaving the No 10 position for Juan Mata who will be slightly positioned behind star striker former Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Mourinho will set out his team to play physical, fouling and slowing down Chelsea’s high pressing energetic style with a draw and a clean sheet Mourinho’s main concern as he prepares to take off points from weaker teams which has been his style in recent times. Chelsea are placed fifth in the table on 16 points while United are seventh on 14 points , five points behind joint league leaders Manchester City and Arsenal.
