Manchester United wear grey kit for the first time since infamous day at The Dell in 1996… but clearly have no problems seeing each other in dominant CSKA Moscow victory
'Invisible' strip or not, it's plain to see Jose Mourinho's side were the best team playing in Russia this week
MANCHESTER UNITED wore the colour of their most infamous strip — but clearly had no problems seeing each other.
At Southampton in 1996, Alex Ferguson stormed into The Dell dressing room at half-time and told his players to change their grey kit.
He blamed the shirt colour for his team passing the ball to the opposition. United were trailing 3-0, and never wore the colour again — until last night.
At half-time, CSKA were losing 3-0 and they must have felt like begging United to change shirts.
Due to the convincing manner of this triumph, Jose Mourinho should keep the kit for the next away game — at Liverpool on October 14.
A quirk of the Champions League fixture list sent two of the biggest rivals in world football to the same area in north-west Moscow within 24 hours of each other.
The first game back after the international break will be a terrific indicator of how both Liverpool and United are progressing.
But there is no doubt which of the two English teams impressed most in the Russian capital.
Liverpool should have beaten the injury-hit Russian champions Spartak 5-0 but left with a 1-1 draw.
United continue to look menacing on all fronts and the difference in quality compared to CSKA was embarrassing.
In a CSKA Arena, which appears to have the sides of a shopping centre built into each of the four corners, United were too good despite remaining in third gear.
From the moment Romelu Lukaku comfortably beat 38-year-old Sergei Ignashevich to a fourth-minute header, the only debate was how many the visitors would score.
Lukaku netted again to reach double figures this term, Anthony Martial rolled in a penalty and Mourinho looked remarkably relaxed.
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Yet if we are to compare the biggest difference between United and Liverpool — and why Mourinho’s men will finish higher — we must look at the back.
Most notably in the goalkeeping department.
Just 24 hours earlier, Liverpool’s keeper Loris Karius failed to keep out a free-kick, which was reasonably near to his body, and Spartak took the lead.
Just 90 seconds after Lukaku’s opener, United No 1 David De Gea showed his agility and anticipation to get down to a decent shot from Alan Dzagoev.
You may wonder whether Karius would have done the same — the answer is no.
De Gea showed absolutely magnificent reactions to tip over an effort from Fedor Chalov. It was a brilliant stop.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan reacted quickest to grab a fourth and the boisterous Russians started to jeer their own team.
Konstantin Kuchaev stuck one past De Gea in injury time, not that it really mattered
Equally, United’s surprise formation of a back-three was not given too many problems and Mourinho chose the right night to rest Phil Jones.
The one-sided nature of this Champions League tie should be a major concern for Uefa.
Mourinho will not care. He will be confident of putting a few past against Crystal Palace on Saturday before making it a grey day for Liverpool fans next month.
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