Manchester United have not scored an away goal against any top six side this season. This attracted a smattering of negative headlines in the wake of the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal last weekend.

It could be argued that there were mitigating circumstances for that particular defeat due to the injuries and Europa League exertions. However, Jose Mourinho also played with a similarly regressive tactical approach in earlier parts of the season.

Against Liverpool, the wingers were tasked with being secondary full-backs and Zlatan Ibrahimovic was largely rendered a solitary attacking presence, in the hope that he could nick a goal out of nothing.

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There is nothing inherently wrong with these tactics; they are perfectly acceptable and adopted by many teams. The problem comes into focus when you consider that the teams usually adopting these tactics are managed by Tony Pulis or Sam Allardyce.

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In fact, Jose Mourinho coined a term for this type of approach in 2014, when bemoaning the fact that his then Chelsea team had been held to a draw by West Ham, then managed by Allardyce. The term was ’19th century football.’ As Mourinho elaborated, he made an assertion that justifies the stick with which some beat him with now:

Using Mourinho’s own reasoning above, why is it that Manchester United have to play such negative football against teams in the top six? He was happy with the summer spending, he was content with the squad he had and earlier in the season the squad was full of fit, fresh players.

The tactical set-up at Arsenal last weekend was the same as it was against Liverpool last year, so excuses about player availability are poor. The poor record against the top six away from home also goes back into his reign at Chelsea, which is rather alarming.

Furthermore, Mourinho made the choice to let first-team players leave in January, when he was well-aware of the depleting effects a Europa League campaign might have. Even then, there have been a lot of games in April and May but other teams in Europe have flourished with a similar workload.

Therefore Mourinho’s excuses are just that, excuses. To borrow his words patronising words to Sam Allardyce and West Ham in 2014, hopefully the future holds better football for his team.