There was relief and joy in equal measure when Anthony Martial scuffed home the winner at Old Trafford on Sunday - a crucial win against a Tottenham side that freshly trounced Liverpool.Manchester United had been tackled with criticism over their style of play in the preceding week after the return from the international break was marked with a cagey trip to Anfield.Most fans were satisfied with the result but there was a general unease about the style of play which has become so typical of Jose Mourinho teams against major opponents.The goalless draw was followed up by a sheepish Champions League victory at Benfica - virtue of some poor goalkeeping - and a defeat at Huddersfield that raised reports of a fractured dressing room.So there was certainly a lot to celebrate when Martial found the net, even if the performance against Spurs wasn't exactly an attacking masterpiece, either.Nevertheless, Mourinho summed up the situation perfectly when he made a shush gesture down a television camera lens at full-time. It served as an emphatic reminder that the Special One is very much in control, contrary to the belief of some.The Portuguese will be hoping to carry the optimism from the Spurs victory to the visit of Benfica at Old Trafford tonight in an easier looking fixture.It should produce a victory that all but sends the Red Devils into the knockout stages.
As a result, it would allow the club to divert attention back to the Premier League and a title race that has fallen greatly into the hands of free-scoring City who command a five point lead at the summit.This newfound optimism has been somewhat undercut by Mourinho's latest round of programme notes, however.The Special One pens a small column before every home match and a single sentence from his latest report left a sour taste in the mouth.Check it out:
Unnecessary, that's for sure.
And United fans have taken an exception to the bizarre dig from their manager, even if some sections really did remain frustrated with the style of football.
That certainly didn't temper the backlash; check out the pick of the tweets:
Mourinho is often a controversial figure in press conferences and interviews yet it's somewhat ill-advised to pen anything that could be perceived as an undue hit at your own fans.
That being said, if United take Benfica apart then - at least literally speaking - Mourinho will be vindicated.
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