It is fair to say that this season has provided its fair share of frustrating moments for Jose Mourinho. But nothing should inject confidence quite like the satisfaction of his side’s 2-0 victory over Chelsea, especially considering that his last encounters with his ex-club have resulted in 1-0 and 4-0 losses respectively. Mourinho insists that his emotions do not play a part in this fixture, but whether you believe him or not, it is hard not to attach great significance and hope to this result. Could this be the first signs of the rebirth that Mourinho and Manchester United both so desperately need?

No one will deny that the performance from Jose’s side against Chelsea was dominant from the referee’s whistle, many writers quite rightly labelling the performance as a tactical masterclass. Not only was this result a reminder of how effortlessly Mourinho can turn over top teams, it also served as an indication that he can instruct his team to play offensively when he wants to, with devastating effects.

As he has been reminded about on many occasions, Mourinho’s side have often been accused of parking the bus defensively. But there was no sign of this last Sunday. It was also refreshing to see Mourinho put to bed the other common accusation that he puts no faith in young players. His inclusion of Rashford and Lingard silenced this charge, and it certainly paid off as both players impressed on this big stage.

If Mourinho has returned to his old self, perhaps he has also brought back something a little extra with him. Jose’s ruthlessness may very much be emerging from the slump of the last couple of years – and if he can maintain the tactical prowess that has made him so untouchable in the past, those interested in betting may want to check the matched bet offers at comparison sites such as Freebetoffers.co.uk and back United for a top four finish this year.

With all this positivity, it might be asked if it is too early to give Mourinho this huge vote of confidence. This could very well be a unique performance that could be followed by a series of less impressive results that have unfortunately been all too familiar since Ferguson departed. But nothing screams ‘I’m back’ quite like Mourinho’s satisfied smile in his post-match interview, a facial expression that was certainly different to the frustration we have so often seen of him recently. To give him his due, he was right to be so delighted, as Chelsea haven’t been this hurt since their reality check at the Emirates last September.

Even if this result does turn out to be a one-off masterclass, Mourinho will have still reminded us all what he is capable of, and this reminder should serve as a substantial warning that he could be back to his very best at any moment.