Unlike Chelsea assistant coach Marco Ianni, Jose Mourinho will not have trouble with the FA this time as even Maurizio Sarri had to urged Chelsea fans to show their ex-head coach more respect. Arsenal legend Ian Wright even believes Mourinho can build on the touchline incident in a way.
Wright wrote in his column in The Sun: ''Thanking Chelsea coach Marco Ianni for celebrating in front of him will have been the last thing on Jose’s mind on Saturday. But Ianni could actually have unwittingly done him a massive favour. Just as he could find himself responsible for helping transform United’s fortunes.
''I haven’t heard anyone with anything but sympathy for the way Mourinho reacted to the goading — 'sympathy' and 'Jose' aren’t usually heard in the same sentence. When he raced from the dugout to try to get hold of Ianni, it was the action of a man for whom it mattered so much. It was the action of a man who cares. And to those United supporters, that is crucial.
''They want to see their heroes showing as much passion as they do. They want to see the same joy and pain they feel in 90 minutes. Jose did exactly that. And I’m delighted to see fortune and feelings starting to change in The Special One’s favour a little.
''I know United were disappointed not to win a game they had turned on its head but you could see from that second half how it was a case of 'come on, let’s go, let’s show them'. Nobody could suggest his players were not totally behind him back at Stamford Bridge. The big smile and hug he got off Anthony Martial when he came off was fantastic, a lovely moment.
''There were signs it was moving in the right direction with the comeback against Newcastle. In fairness, though, that was against a struggling side at home. This was Chelsea, a genuine title challenger and this was different.
''This was a very definite indication of things moving forwards again. Now, of course, United face an even tougher task against Juventus. Get a result in that one and United really WILL start to think they are through the worst of it.''
