Lukaku misses team bus because he was struggling to provide urine sample
The Belgian found it harder to provide a urine sample for drug-testers than score goals this season and had to catch up in a taxi.
And United had more trouble than expected dealing with a Saints side who played better in the second half than anyone seeing them recently could have anticipated.
So much so that Mourinho ended the game with three center-backs, three full-backs and three defensive-minded midfielders — plus Lukaku — on the pitch.
Yes, we have seen United blow teams away this season with 4-0 wins over Swansea, Everton and West Ham. But this was the other side of the coin.
A 1-0 win away from home when you are not at your best and you dig in at the end.
That wins titles just as much as blowing away Palace 5-0 like rivals City did. And the Special One knows it only too well.
MANCHESTER UNITED’S team bus left St Mary’s without match-winner Romelu Lukaku on Saturday night.
But it was a different bus Jose Mourinho’s team parked on the pitch to make sure Lukaku’s first-half strike secured another victory.
And United had more trouble than expected dealing with a Saints side who played better in the second half than anyone seeing them recently could have anticipated.
So much so that Mourinho ended the game with three center-backs, three full-backs and three defensive-minded midfielders — plus Lukaku — on the pitch.
Yes, we have seen United blow teams away this season with 4-0 wins over Swansea, Everton and West Ham. But this was the other side of the coin.
A 1-0 win away from home when you are not at your best and you dig in at the end.
That wins titles just as much as blowing away Palace 5-0 like rivals City did. And the Special One knows it only too well.