Manchester United’s woeful streak went on with a nil-nil draw at home to Valencia in the UEFA Champions League, the home fans endured a performance lacking attacking intensity in their fourth winless game at home, the sole home win coming in the season opener versus Leicester City.
All fingers point at José Mourinho as the main cause of their malaise due to his constant criticism of his own players and outdated tactics. I did feel he was going to lead Man United to an abysmal season right from Pre-season when he critisized his top players for several reasons added to the fact that Mourinho has never lasted more than three successive seasons at a club . A top manager with Jose’s experience should understand that player power is now very important at clubs, there’s an obvious discord between manager and some players that it has to end only one way, its a matter of how much the club can endure this mess for the rest of the season because José Mourinho is on his way out.
A team who isn’t having problems scoring or winning games at the moment is AS Roma, the Italians thrashed Viktoria Plzen 5-0 with the help of Edin Dzeko’s hat trick. Paulo Dybala also helped himself to a Hat trick in Juventus’ 3-0 win against Young Boys of Switzerland. Real Madrid’s shock 1-0 loss to a young CSKA Moscow side managed by Viktor Goncharenko ensured the critics are now firmly out for Real, despite fielding a depleted team they hit the post thrice and haven’t scored in three consecutive games for the first time since 2007. Julen Lopetegui has assembled his side to be more attack-minded this season with a lot of ball possession but they are in a mini-crisis at the moment and only a win in their next match before the international break can calm the now tense Madrid nerves.
Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspurs played out to a thriller at Wembley that featured a fantastic half-volley from Ivan Rakitic, a brace from Leo Messi and a Harry Kane goal. I expected Spurs to display a huge fighting spirit despite a long list of injury absentees but they ultimately fell short to an early Coutinho goal and of course some of that Messi Magic��.
Nigeria-born Dutchman Arnaut Danjuma scored a 30-yard scorcher for Club Brugge against Atletico Madrid but it wasn’t enough to stop a Griezmann-inspired Atletico side, cue calls from Nigerian fans to invite him to the national side.
Paris Saint Germain were led by a Neymar hat trick at a walk in the Parc des Prince (pun intended) against Red star Belgrade, 6-1 the final score with Ex-Chelsea man Marko Marin grabbing the consolation for the Serbians.
Steve Bruce has been fired by Aston Villa after poor form this season leaves them with 15 points after 11 games in the English second division. His tenure ended with a 3-3 draw with Preston North end and he had a cabbage thrown at him from the Villa stands before kick off, the game saw Villa let a 2-goal lead slip before getting a chance for the winner but Glenn Whelan had his last-gasp penalty saved. Aston Villa are a Premier league club in my eyes and desperately need to gain promotion this season after last season’s loss to Fulham in the promotion playoff final, remaining in the championship after this season will ensure they lose more Premier league-level players and promotion only gets tougher, Good luck to Aston Villa.
