Manchester United\u00a0must know that it is a possibility that they will spend another season in the shadow of their formidable neighbours. The most famous club in England are 19 points behind Manchester City with one game remaining and while this forgettable draw secured second place for Jos\u00e9 Mourinho\u2019s spluttering team, that will not be cause for celebration when they consider the ease with which Pep Guardiola\u2019s record-breaking champions have cantered into the distance.<\/p>\n
The gap is vast and United will struggle to cut it as long as they continue to toil against opponents as limited as West Ham. Mourinho argued that a point was a respectable reward but United\u2019s fans, who spent much of the second half bellowing their support for the hospitalised Sir Alex Ferguson on a drab night, must be concerned at their team\u2019s negative approach.<\/p>\n
Forget about the late sideshow flare-up between Paul Pogba and Mark Noble The real intrigue was that when Mourinho turned to his bench as this dire game neared its conclusion, he did not consider the merits of Anthony Martial. Instead he opted for caution, turning to Eric Bailly and Ashley Young to see United over the line, and Martial stayed in his seat, yawning along with the rest of us.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the game goes to minute 70 or 75, you don\u2019t win, you don\u2019t lose,\u201d Mourinho said. \u201cWe deserved the point and second position. When you are not ready to be champion, second position is the best available.\u201d<\/p>\n
It might seem harsh to be critical given that United got the job done, assuming their task was to participate in a grim slog. Yet it is hard to shake off the impression Mourinho is managing expectations in an effort to make it seem that he cannot be blamed for his team\u2019s failure to compete with City.<\/p>\n
He had glowered more than usual before this game and his observation that some of the players at his disposal are not good enough to challenge Guardiola\u2019s side did not seem like a classic motivational ploy.<\/p>\n
United, who made eight changes after their defeat at Brighton, rarely suggested that they were going to respond to their manager\u2019s curious form of tough love. They needed time to adjust to an unfamiliar 3-4-1-2 system and although they looked solid in the central areas, it must have alarmed Mourinho when Chris Smalling\u2019s failure to deal with Aaron Cresswell\u2019s cross almost allowed Marko Arnautovic to give West Ham an early lead.<\/p>\n
Arnautovic turned an awkward header over, however, and United started to threaten sporadically. Pogba had the freedom to roam behind Alexis S\u00e1nchez and Jesse Lingard, and Mourinho\u2019s side could argue that they were unfortunate not to be in front at the interval. Scott McTominay sent a shot inches wide after an error from Manuel Lanzini, Lingard had two swerving shots pushed away by Adri\u00e1n, and West Ham were indebted to a brilliant piece of athleticism from their goalkeeper in the 23rd minute.<\/p>\n
S\u00e1nchez, who scored a hat-trick for Arsenal on this ground last season, must have been licking his lips when Antonio Valencia found him with a cut-back from the right. He had time to pick his spot and he tried to bend a shot high to Adri\u00e1n\u2019s right. The Spaniard responded with a sharp stop, however, and then he sprang back into position to turn Luke Shaw\u2019s fizzing low drive against the woodwork.<\/p>\n
It is two years to the day since\u00a0West Ham said farewell to Upton Park with an emotional victory over United\u00a0and with his team\u2019s Premier League status secured, there was an argument that this was an opportunity for David Moyes to let go of the handbrake.<\/p>\n