EPL 2016/17: Alan Shearer shocked to see Jose Mourinho so embarrassed

Mourinho in a despondent mood during United’s miserable day at Stamford Bridge

The Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer, Alan Shearer, in his column for The Sun, wrote that he had never seen Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho so embarrassed, during United’s 4-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. However, he maintains that the reason for his embarrassment was valid.

Never seen Mourinho this embarrassed, says Shearer

‘I have never seen Jose Mourinho looking so thoroughly embarrassed — and with good reason,’ Shearer wrote to begin his article. 

The former Toon legend states that the manager was right to be disappointed with his players, as they were completely outplayed in the game, against a rampant, balanced Chelsea team.

Shearer also added that the team as a whole and most of the players on the field for United were an embarrassment to the ‘Manchester United name’ from start to finish.

United poor in defence, no threat in attack: Shearer

According to the former Premier League winner, United’s defensive organisation was terribly poor and they also posed no threat going forward in attack. He also highlighted a key concern for the Portuguese manager, which is not knowing his best eleven at United.

As a result of their Europa league games on Thursday night, Shearer believes the balance of the United squad has taken a hit. The Englishman went on to indicate that the constant change in positions of players as a factor and an unsettled starting eleven were adding to the Portuguese manager’s troubles.

“He has a massive task on his hands, just to make United competitive with the top teams in the Premier League. Look at their performances against the leading sides — well beaten by Manchester City, hopelessly negative in a shocker at Liverpool and then smashed by Chelsea,” writes Shearer. 

Shearer singled out David de Gea as the only permanent starter who Jose Mourinho can pick in his eleven each week and went on to point out that Marcus Rashford couldn’t be blamed for his performance, since he was deployed out of position and pegged back into his own half defending rapid Chelsea breaks for large parts of the game. 

Chelsea outfought and out-thought United, says Shearer

The Newcastle legend also praised Antonio Conte, who has reinvigorated players like Hazard, Luiz, Moses and Cahill in his new 3-4-3 formation, that has seen them record four wins on the trot in the league and currently find themselves in fourth; a point off the top of the table. 

“They were outfought and out-thought. Chelsea bullied them into submission — and that cannot be allowed to happen again,” the former Toon legend wrote.

Shearer believes Mourinho has to figure out his best eleven quickly, as the fixtures come thick and fast for United, with City up next at Old Trafford in the EFL Cup. Mourinho will be hoping for a reaction from his players in the second Manchester derby of the year.

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