Tag: soccer

Mourinho is known for his crowd provocation. This was after his win against Juventus away from home in the Champions League this season. Credit: Fox Sports

The Special One.
Controversial.
Boisterous.
Showman.
Unhinged.
Serial Winner.

These are many ways I would describe the recently departed Manchester United manager. However, the epithet, ‘Serial Winner’, in recent times has been called into question, not only by me as a United supporter, but other fellow supporters, who have felt this way for some time.

Where did it all go wrong?
Mourinho is one of the most successful managers in the history of football. His long list of accomplishments with European powerhouses has made him a household name in the beautiful game.
But is his time up?
Has he been found out?
Has a once feared and revered manager, become senile and started losing the plot?

We can look at this concept more closely.
Mourinho has been ridiculed by sections of the media and supporters from ex-clubs, because of his antics, personality clashes with his own team and opposition, in-game tactics and unwillingness to nurture talent at the clubs he manages.

Despite winning 3 trophies, Mourinho suffered his “3rd season syndrome” and left in controversial style. Credit: The Independent

Antics
Mourinho has demonstrated audacious bravado throughout his career. One could argue that he has the right to do so, since he has won numerous honours, starting with the Champions League with Porto in 04’. However, he doesn’t shrink back from stoking controversy. Who can forget the infamous Chelsea team doctor scandal? It was after that incident which involved Eden Hazard, that Chelsea surprisingly slumped that season. He had lost the dressing room. Hazard has subsequently stated that he had no issues with Mourinho, but in my opinion, that statement was out of respect, to not shame him. I’m sure most people would flip out if their coach said they couldn’t get treatment, whilst playing a match.

Mourinho arguing with Eva Carneiro, who eventually left the club later that season. Credit: Sky Sports 

Personality clashes
“Specialist in failure?” Remember this?
This was description Jose gave to Arsene Wenger, since Arsenal had struggled to beat Mourinho as he manager of Chelsea. Even though, Wenger had a near 10-year barren trophy run until 2014, he was still revered and still is as one of England’s most successful and influential managers. This was a turning point for many as they felt that success had gone to his head.

Luke Shaw who had been bought by Van Gaal was meant to be the next best thing since sliced bread. He was in and out of the team, before being ousted by Ashley Young. Some say that this was due to personal disliking, some say it was to make him improve his fitness. Shaw has made the left-back position his and has been one of Man Utd’s stand-out performers, however, the handling could have been better, as it was made out as if Shaw was the one who had created the rift.

Whatever you want to think about Wenger, you not only have to respect what he did for British football, but what he won at Arsenal, depsite Sir Alex Ferguson’s dominance with Utd. Credit: The Independent

Another one is Paul Pogba. I do not understand how you can get one of the most skilful and talented midfielders in Europe and so far, not have the desired impact in big games. The only Pogba performance in my opinion, that has warranted the hefty fee United churned out for him was last season’s one against Man City.

A great manager is one who is able to bring out the best in the players in the club and devise effective training tactics and in-game strategy that will make you effective no matter what the opposition is doing. With Mourinho at Chelsea, many criticised what they saw as negative tactics with emphasis placed on defence. The high confidence of experienced players like Frank Lampard, Claude Makalele , Arjen Robben and Didier Drogba led to an expression of direct positive play with effective counterattacking football that overall made the team effective and hard to play against.

Mourinho had a spine of Cech, Terry, Lampard and Drogba. I don’t think he had that at Utd, despite having spent a lot in the past transfer windows. Credit: Premier League

Where the players even world class players like Pogba lack such confidence and feel that their manager is not unwilling to ‘throw them under the bus’ the whole team is shrouded by a fear of failure which creates an atmosphere where otherwise winnable games are lost. This seems to be what has happened with ‘The Special One’ at MUFC. The manner of the loss to Liverpool on was more than the owners could cope with and with Mourinho’s aura of invincibility and control being shattered, it was time to make a desperate change.

Mourinho has never had a good relationship with the footballing press but touch line tantrums and charged press conference with him demanding respect did nothing to reassure the board and supporters that this was the man that would lead them to a decent table finish.

Once you have ‘lost the dressing room ‘ there usually is no redemption.
The inability to gel as a team inspite large spending in the summer on new players like of the presence of bright and talented players like Pogba, Martial, Lingard, Rashford and will always lead to questions being asked of the manager. Mourinho seemed to have run out of inspiration and patience.

Tension between Pogba and Mourinho at training Credit: Eurosport

Regarding Pogba, overall, he has been okay this season, but I am yet to see a performance like the one at the Etihad in 2018. He certainly has not fulfilled his billing as the most expensive player in the history of the English Premier League. We shall see in the new year, as his performances under Solskjaer have garnered acclaim.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
The “Baby-faced assassin” has returned to Old Trafford to work some magic and he has got three wins on the bounce. I know you opposition fans will state that “it’s only against Huddersfield, Cardiff and Bournemouth”, but you just have to play what’s in front of you. With the trends on the field at United prior to the managerial switch, no one could confidently assert that these games were in the bag and we would not have dropped points, if Mourinho was still in charge.

All smiles with the new caretaker boss. Credit: The Telegraph

What does Utd need?
I feel that Utd need an experienced well-respected manager and one who is a serial winner like Jose Mourinho has been previously. I think the perfect fit is Ancelotti. He’s won big trophies at AC Milan, Chelsea and Real Madrid. Now he’s doing a decent job at Napoli.
Even if he doesn’t stay for many years, I think that he will be a positive change in the dressing room and can get us winning more trophies.

Would Carlo be a good fit at Utd? Credit: Goal.com

In terms of signings, I do think we need a centre half and a natural right winger. I do think Bailly and Lindelof are a good pairing, but we need experience as one would need experience and composure. Look at how Van Dijk has transformed Liverpool for example. My preferred choice at centre half would be Koulibaly from Napoli. I’ve seen him play in the Champions League for Ancelotti and the man is a machine. Strong, quick and composed play is what is needed at the back.

Koulibaly may just be what Utd need Credit: Sky Sports

In terms of right wingers, I would go for Christian Pulisic, because he is a gifted playmaker. He’s not getting into the Dortmund team ahead of Jadon Sancho, because of Sancho’s consistency and brilliance at a young age, but I do believe he could better himself at a club like ours. I hope Chelsea don’t get him.

Christian Pulisic is good prospect, but I think he should move. Credit: Daily Express.

Another option is Leon Bailey, from Leverkusen. However, he is a valuable asset to that team, so prying him away would be very difficult. That position has been crying out for speedster. I thought Alexis Sanchez would have been the answer, but he’s massively underperformed, in contrast to his Barcelona and Arsenal days.
If we do this, we can compete again.

What do you think?