Can Mourinho ever stop moaning?
Another week, another moan by Mourinho. Jose is already in top form before the season has even kicked off. From saying that he’s not sure whether his squad can compete for the title with the squad he has, to complaining that he probably needs another two players and that with Liverpool’s investment they should win the league.
I agree. It must be tough having one of the best goal keepers in the world, one of the most expensive striker and midfielder in the world and having a player like Alexis Sanchez in your team earning a cool £350,000 a week. It must be really hard to have all your players at the World Cup performing well and be the only team in the world with these problems. As for investment it must be hard being backed to the tune of £774.52m, the second highest only to Manchester City (£912.51).
I’m sure as you can see see I don’t agree with this complaints. I can never understand Mourinho while at the same time I know exactly what he is doing, but it still infuriates me. This is one of the most successful coaches of all time, but does he act like it? No. All he does is try and take the pressure of his team performing, put the pressure on his opponents to perform and try and get a reaction for opposing managers and get in their heads. The problem is, it doesn’t seem to be working.
How much would you like Jose?
We’ve all heard the excuses before and no manager especially Klopp is going to care what Mourinho says. All Klopp needs to do is turn around and say in the same period United have spent almost a £100 million more on players in the same time, while United’s net spend from 2016-2018 is -£625 million and Liverpool’s is -£269 million. So there goes the argument about not being backed in the transfer market.
Right now united are being linked with a £60m move for Harry Maguire, a player Leicester City bought for £13m just one season ago. That just shows you how United are willing to back Mourinho
World Cup fever
While Pochettino was running around his room cheering Kane’s goals you have Mourinho belittling Pogba’s performances and saying he has to prove it at United. Now he’s not wrong, but why shoot down your own player in public when you know he is struggling for confidence in a United shirt? Because if a player performs better under a different manager Mourinho can’t take it. Simple as that in my personal opinion.
All the top six teams had several players play in the World Cup and while Spurs and United were the worst affected with their players playing longer than most, they all have the same problems. Yet why is it that we are making such a big deal out if it? Mourinho is complaining he can’t put a team out, yet he was the one who gave his players extended breaks and has been able to field a starting XI in all the preseason games which consists of first team players. Yes there are a lot of kids on tour and the big names like Pogba, Lukaku, Rashford, Lingard aren’t available but this has given the opportunity for a player like Andreas Pereira an opportunity to show what he can do and he hasn’t disappointed.
All it means is United’s top players might be a week behind where they should be for the first round of fixtures, but guess what? He won’t be alone. Make do with what you have, trust me there are many millions of pounds worth of players that should be able to do the job still.
New signings
United lost Michael Carrick at the end of the season but the truth is they lost him at the beginning of the year and have been looking at who can replace him in the midfield. Who is to partner Matic and Pogba? United firstly extended Fellaini’s contract and then proceeded to splash out £50 million for Fred. So the obvious thing would be a midfield of Pogba, Matic and Fred with Sanchez, Lukaku and Lingard upfront. But Andreas Pereira might have a say about that, he has been in fine form this preseason and has definitely taken his opportunity. If he continues in this vein of form you could see him featuring quite prominently this season for United. With Fellaini, Herrera and McTominay all on the bench the midfield should be covered.
So where does Mourinho want two new players? My guess a right wing and left back or centre back.
Despite Shaw coming back as the fittest player in the squad and Young having a great world cup this is still a position Jose would like to strengthen this area. I personally think between Young and Shaw with Mitchel coming through the ranks you have that covered. So centre back? Nobody has really nailed down their place in the back, Smalling has come closest yet at the same time looks the most likely to leave if United were to offload a centre back to make way for someone that can do a job that Mourinho needs. Blind has left the club but Fosu-Mensah and Tuanzebe have returned from loans and I would like to see them given more of a chance this season.
If Anthony Martial was to leave then a right wing would become all the more important. Lingard had a great season but is he world class? Probably not. Mourinho would have loved someone like Gareth Bale to come in, but that seems highly unlikely now that Ronaldo has moved on. Rumours have been doing the rounds that United are interested in Rebic and Perišić.
Just be better Jose
Yes, I am not the biggest Mourinho fan and I was one of those that didn’t want him to come to the club to begin with because it’s all about him and the football becomes more dire as seasons go on. We have seen this where ever he has gone. BUT. At the time of is appointment I said United had no other option but to go for him. He was the only one on paper that could fight it out with Pep, rebuild the squad from scratch and had the aura to draw quality players to the club. I understand why United went with Mourinho, where I would have gone with Pochettino, but be better Jose?
Less moaning, less pragmatic football and less excuses. Mourinho has the ability to get his team to beat any team in the world. He’s a world class manager and I would love to see him be more positive, in all places. In United’s seasons chances, in the way he approaches United style of play and the way he treats his players *cough Shaw cough Pogba cough*. There times you see Jose with a smile joking around with players and managers and it just has to put a smile on your face. I want more of these moments…