If Jose Mourinho gets fined or banned after being sent to the stands on Saturday for continually stepping out of his technical area, it will be an absolute disgrace. It was a joke of a decision.

When Antonio Conte goes dancing down the touchline like a jack-in-the-box or Jurgen Klopp contorts his face while waving maniacally at a fourth official, we praise them as being passionate and say it's great to see.

They can act like lunatics but not get punished. Yet when it's Mourinho, there's a suspicion his intentions can only be Machiavellian. Stepping on to the pitch, six inches over a white line, getting too close to the fourth official — he's up to something, he's devious. He's not, he's trying to win.

It will be an absolute disgrace if Jose Mourinho gets fined or banned after being sent to stands

JOSE MOURINHO'S RAP SHEET Jose Mourinho has now been sent to the stands nine times, sat out 16 matches in bans and been fined a total of £329,000. Here are the pick of his dismissals: April 2003, Porto: Stopped Lazio player from taking a quick throw. March 2005, Chelsea: Accused ref Anders Frisk of meeting Barca boss Frank Rijkaard at half-time in Champions League match. February 2010, Inter Milan: Made gesture to suggest he was handcuffed after two Inter players were sent off. August 2011, Real Madrid: Poked finger in eye of Barca's Tito Vilanova in Spanish Super Cup. October 2015, Chelsea: Suggested referees were 'afraid' to give decisions to Chelsea. October 2015, Chelsea: Called referee Jon Moss 'f****** weak'. November 2016, Man United: Kicked water bottle during draw with West Ham. Advertisement

Mourinho wants to get the best out of his players so it's great to see if you are a Manchester United fan.

Louis van Gaal had an insouciant style almost at odds with what we were used to from Sir Alex Ferguson and Mourinho has brought back that fire.

I had my differences with him when I was manager at West Brom and he was at Chelsea as he can wind you up but it's for the benefit of his team and officials need to realise that. Sending him to the stands for that is pathetic.

Mourinho winds his teams up to win games, he cajoles them into giving that bit extra and so far it's working.

When Antonio Conte and Jurgen Klopp act up on the side, we praise them as being passionate

United have a competitive team full of power and pace and are a real threat to Manchester City and Chelsea this season.

Nemanja Matic and Romelu Lukaku have made a big difference, while you can see greater maturity in the likes of Phil Jones, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford; when the team needed them they've stepped up.

There is certainly a feeling around Old Trafford that they can challenge for the title. I know Mourinho has changed some of the pictures that adorn the walls at the training ground to reflect the trophies won last year, the League Cup and the Europa League, and I totally agree with that. It's not an ego trip, it's a reminder of the standards required and what needs to come next.

When you join Manchester United, history always sits on your shoulders as you are expected to win like the teams from before. It's simple, if you can't handle that, don't join — it shouldn't be a burden, it's a challenge. As a player looking around the club, you should want to be in the photographs on the walls to create your own part of history.

Mourinho (right) was sent to the stands for stepping a few inches onto the St Mary's pitch

I know for a fact Paul Pogba came back because he wanted to emulate the players he grew up with at United. Mourinho has won plenty of trophies but the one photograph you can guarantee he wants on the wall above all others will be of him lifting his first Premier League title with United.

Injuries will be key. The squad is strong but Pogba has his hamstring problem while Matic and Marouane Fellaini picked up knocks against Southampton. United can cope but won't want too many injuries in the same area of the pitch, especially one as crucial as central midfield.

You would have concerns if Lukaku picked up an injury, too, but Rashford and Martial are sharing the scoring responsibility and, fingers crossed, Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be back in December.

It's been four years since United won the league. Chelsea look strong and City are a great attacking threat but United certainly have nothing to fear.