Manchester City on Sunday entered the record books with a 2-1 derby victory over rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford. City are the first team to win 14 consecutive matches within the same season, and have equalled the top-flight record of 14 wins in a row, set by Arsenal across two campaigns in 2002.
Having bossed the first half, City's pressure was rewarded in the 43rd minute. Kevin De Bruyne's corner was flicked on and, with Ashley Young playing Silva onside, the Spaniard hooked home from close range.
Mourinho's team were gifted an equaliser in first-half stoppage time when City defender Fabian Delph made a hash of clearing and Marcus Rashford pounced to slot past Ederson for his ninth club goal of the season.
But United returned the favour with an even more farcical piece of defending in the 54th minute. Silva's free-kick should have been cleared by Romelu Lukaku, but instead the Belgian slammed a panicked clearance into the back of United team-mate Chris Smalling and the ball looped towards Argentine defender Otamendi, who stretched to fire home.
United felt they should have had a late penalty for Otamendi's challenge on Ander Herrera, but the midfielder was booked for diving, while Lukaku and Juan Mata were denied an equaliser by Ederson's brilliant double save.
That even Jose Mourinho told his own bench not to celebrate Marcus Rashford’s first half equaliser spoke volumes about a match that has effectively killed off the title race.
True, titles aren’t won in December - but they can be lost.
Just ask Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal and now Manchester United.
The gap to Manchester City is now 11 points after this 2-1 defeat. The gap in terms of quality is even greater.
But what will infuriate Mourinho most of all is that his side lost in a most un-Mourinho way - succumbing to two set pieces.
And after a first half display in which United were utterly dominated by Pep Guardiola's fluid football, he will struggle to find much sympathy.
As the home fans chanted ‘attack, attack, attack,’ the visiting supporters rejoiced in their new anthem ‘Park the bus, park the bus Man United.’
And there’s the issue.
Had Mourinho’s side slogged out a narrow win after soaking up the pressure, no United fan would have left the ground unhappy.
As evidenced by the reaction to Rashford’s strike in first half injury time - after David Silva had volleyed City ahead - was the smashiest of smash and grab goals. Old Trafford erupted - and so did United’s bench. It took Mourinho to tell his staff to rein it in.
Perhaps even he knew it was a bit rich to rejoice after City had enjoyed 75 percent of posession.
If you are going to play that way, you have to make it pay.
United did - just about - in the first half, but this match was won by a City side who showed far more intent to do so.
That both their goals came from set pieces and errors from United - Romelu Lukaku in particular - is somewhat ironic given that was the department United were supposed to take advantage from.
Lukaku’s 54th minute clearance from Silva’s free kick ricocheted back into the path of Nicolas Otamendi to volley home.
Mourinho puts such stock in defending corners and free kicks - and such faith in his players to carry out his orders that the nature of the goals conceded will haunt him back in the Lowry tonight.
Guardiola, too, won’t be particularly delighted by the fact his side struggled to create the number of clear cut chances from open play that their football deserved - but he is the one who left with points.
Mourinho, instead, is left hoping for the unlikeliest of collapses from City in the second half of the season.
But given the chance to provoke doubt in the minds of Guardiola’s men, he will only have filled them with more confidence after such a timid attempt to keep the title race alive.
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| United are now 11 points behind City |
Having bossed the first half, City's pressure was rewarded in the 43rd minute. Kevin De Bruyne's corner was flicked on and, with Ashley Young playing Silva onside, the Spaniard hooked home from close range.
Mourinho's team were gifted an equaliser in first-half stoppage time when City defender Fabian Delph made a hash of clearing and Marcus Rashford pounced to slot past Ederson for his ninth club goal of the season.
But United returned the favour with an even more farcical piece of defending in the 54th minute. Silva's free-kick should have been cleared by Romelu Lukaku, but instead the Belgian slammed a panicked clearance into the back of United team-mate Chris Smalling and the ball looped towards Argentine defender Otamendi, who stretched to fire home.
United felt they should have had a late penalty for Otamendi's challenge on Ander Herrera, but the midfielder was booked for diving, while Lukaku and Juan Mata were denied an equaliser by Ederson's brilliant double save.
That even Jose Mourinho told his own bench not to celebrate Marcus Rashford’s first half equaliser spoke volumes about a match that has effectively killed off the title race.
True, titles aren’t won in December - but they can be lost.
Just ask Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal and now Manchester United.
The gap to Manchester City is now 11 points after this 2-1 defeat. The gap in terms of quality is even greater.
But what will infuriate Mourinho most of all is that his side lost in a most un-Mourinho way - succumbing to two set pieces.
And after a first half display in which United were utterly dominated by Pep Guardiola's fluid football, he will struggle to find much sympathy.
As the home fans chanted ‘attack, attack, attack,’ the visiting supporters rejoiced in their new anthem ‘Park the bus, park the bus Man United.’
And there’s the issue.
Had Mourinho’s side slogged out a narrow win after soaking up the pressure, no United fan would have left the ground unhappy.
As evidenced by the reaction to Rashford’s strike in first half injury time - after David Silva had volleyed City ahead - was the smashiest of smash and grab goals. Old Trafford erupted - and so did United’s bench. It took Mourinho to tell his staff to rein it in.
Perhaps even he knew it was a bit rich to rejoice after City had enjoyed 75 percent of posession.
If you are going to play that way, you have to make it pay.
United did - just about - in the first half, but this match was won by a City side who showed far more intent to do so.
That both their goals came from set pieces and errors from United - Romelu Lukaku in particular - is somewhat ironic given that was the department United were supposed to take advantage from.
Lukaku’s 54th minute clearance from Silva’s free kick ricocheted back into the path of Nicolas Otamendi to volley home.
Mourinho puts such stock in defending corners and free kicks - and such faith in his players to carry out his orders that the nature of the goals conceded will haunt him back in the Lowry tonight.
Guardiola, too, won’t be particularly delighted by the fact his side struggled to create the number of clear cut chances from open play that their football deserved - but he is the one who left with points.
Mourinho, instead, is left hoping for the unlikeliest of collapses from City in the second half of the season.
But given the chance to provoke doubt in the minds of Guardiola’s men, he will only have filled them with more confidence after such a timid attempt to keep the title race alive.
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