Things aren't getting any easier for Jose Mourinho.
Three days after his Manchester United side failed to hold onto a lead at home against Wolves, and just hours after the latest chapter in the Paul Pogba saga, the Red Devils were dumped out of the EFL Cup on penalties by Championship side Derby County.
Related: Why Mourinho must be sacrificed amid ongoing power struggle with Pogba
United had taken a third-minute lead at Old Trafford through Juan Mata's first goal since December, but from then on, everything seemed to go wrong. Harry Wilson's free-kick stunner and Jack Marriott's headed rebound, either side of home goalkeeper Sergio Romero's dismissal, meant Marouane Fellaini's 95th-minute equalizer proved to be merely a stay of execution for Mourinho's men.
Ultimately, it was the second-tier Rams who triumphed in a mammoth 16-penalty faceoff at the Theatre of Dreams, with Phil Jones being the only man to miss from the spot.
United have now won just four of eight games in all competitions this season and, given what's been happening off the field as well as on it, the scrutiny of the Portuguese boss is likely to hit unprecedented levels. Certainly, Twitter had plenty to say about the latest in what seems like a laundry list of low points in Salford.
Frank Lampard has beaten Jose Mourinho in his first competitive managerial meeting between the two.
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 25, 2018
The apprentice overcomes the master. pic.twitter.com/oCEJeRPyAM
Super Frank beating the Special One. #MUFCvDCFC
— Simon Johnson (@sjstandardsport) September 25, 2018
Lampard surely can’t pass up the opportunity to run down the Old Trafford touchline...
— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) September 25, 2018
Phil Jones missing that penalty was the most predictable thing that has ever happened.
— Graham Ruthven (@grahamruthven) September 25, 2018
At least Phil Jones started as he meant to go on pic.twitter.com/XFIyJmZjvE
— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) September 25, 2018
Phil Jones would have taken a better penalty if he'd tried it with his head which, when it comes to him, you can't completely rule out him trying.
— Jonny Sharples (@JonnyGabriel) September 25, 2018
Current mood pic.twitter.com/WNrxhCWq0Z
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) September 25, 2018
All Pogba’s fault.
— John Brewin (@JohnBrewin_) September 25, 2018
Pogba looking at Jose Mourinho from the press box. #MUCFvDCFC pic.twitter.com/8okeo9QxXH
— SiriusXM FC 157 ⚽️📻 (@SiriusXMFC) September 25, 2018
Fair play to United, this is up there with “the night of a million crosses” and 4-0 at MK Dons in terms of pure, unadulterated embarrassment.
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) September 25, 2018
It’s “only the League Cup” except United at the point when it’s “only one bad game” every few.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) September 25, 2018
- Out of the Carabao Cup
— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) September 25, 2018
- 7th in the Premier League
- Mourinho falling out with the media
- Mourinho falling out with Pogba
We're still in September 😳#CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/PO9Li5zXXj
Lampard will need to get Mourinho sacked one more time to go level with Terry.
— Sébastien ⚽️🦕 (@SebC__) September 25, 2018
