For 15 minutes on Saturday, Manchester United supporters were given a glimpse of what might just be possible. The scintillating spell before half-time that saw Watford’s defence torn to shreds by the pace and power of José Mourinho’s frontline was a timely reminder that, despite the much-criticised start to the season, he has an attack with frightening potential.
Yet United eventually left Vicarage Road indebted to David de Gea for ending their opponents’ 100% record following a shaky second-half display that must have tested even Mourinho’s nerves, and it was the failure to kill off the game that would have concerned their manager most. Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sánchez and Paul Pogba spurned chances to score a decisive third goal on the break, leading to a frantic final period that led to Nemanja Matic being dismissed for a second booking just before their goalkeeper’s late heroics.
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