THIS WEEKEND’S FOOTBALL IN A BIt

This past weekend in football was very eventful as usual and it served us a buffet of scenarios which caught my eye, here they are:

Reality check for Mourinho

Manchester United did light work in the just concluded transfer window. They got all the players they needed to strengthen and add spine to their team and they did so in ‘record’ time albeit with a hefty transfer chest. They got the bundesliga best player of last season, arguably one of the greatest strikers in this generation, and one of football’s wonder kid who is also the  most expensive player  in the world, all coached by one of the best coaches one can find these days. Manchester United who have endured tumultuous seasons post Ferguson,  had instantly  turned title contenders and rightly so, given their performances in their first three matches, they truly had become a force to reckon with.

The Manchester derby was the first Litmus test  for the special one and it was against his arch rival Guardiola who was helping the citizens in the blue side of Manchester have  a do over of some sort in their football style.

20 minutes into the game and Mourinho’s men were 2 nil down and in Mourinho’s words  after the match, the players were ‘mentally unavailable’. With sleek passing, impressive marking and pressing  and well thought out positioning, the only thing the United players were doing was running around trying to get the ball(if they could) and accumulate fouls.

Ibrahimovic offered a glimmer of hope with a typical Ibrahimovic goal albeit assisted by the Manchester City shot stopper, Claudio Bravo.He may have made it 2 minutes later as Bravo was playing on the edge throughout the match.

The match ended 2-1 but that score line fails in every way to describe the manner at which Manchester City bossed United around almost throughout the game. Even with key absentees, it was a tactical master class for Guardiola.

It is just 4 games into the season and yesterday’s match is almost inconsequential, but Guardiola and his men laid down a marker and a statement of intent that they are ready for business.

For Mourinho and his United army*hello pogba*, it was a reality check that they should and hopefully will learn from.

Hard Life in the premier league

-Defending the league title couldn’t get harder for Leicester City as they were outplayed by the Reds at anfield and shipped in four goals. With just 5 points from a possible 12,they are wallowing in a mere 15^th on the league table. This is a stark contrast from how they started their fairytale campaign last season. It is still early days, so we can’t say much but it is going to  be a tough one for Claudio Ranieri and his blue battalion.

-Chelsea  had to scrap through with a point at the liberty stadium.An away fixture  where all their big names flattered to deceive save for their no 1 villian striker Diego Costa who was their hero thankfully with 2 goals.

-The Arsenal new boys had a good game but Arsenal had to come from behind and score a winner in added time to defeat Southampton.

The premier league is truly no child’s play.

International Break hangover victims

Barcelona were stunned in front of their home fans by newly promoted Alaves. With most of their key players either injured or lacking match fitness,Luis Enrique decided to experiment and rotate the squad, a  decision that  backfired and despite Barcelona’s late onslaught as the match ebbed on the Alaves defence as the match ebbed,the damage had already been done.

5^th Heaven for Real Madrid

Ronaldo scored with his first touch and Real Madrid made  light work of Osasuna as they put 5 past them. They  have started very well and have an 100 percent record In the La liga presently.It mostly will be a tough one this season for the la liga trophy.