Is Mourinho the man for United?
MANAGERS like Jose Mourinho don’t stay out of work for long and clubs like Manchester United don’t accept mediocrity for long.
So a move for the now ‘not-quite-so Special One’ to Old Trafford would appear to be a match made in football heaven … and many so-called good judges would have you believe it’s as good as done.
The BBC claim that Mourinho’s camp have held informal discussions with United but that no agreement has been reached, while Telegraph Sport understands that Mourinho’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has had conversations with the 20-times English champions.
Indeed, earlier this year, scarves bearing his name were even on sale outside Old Trafford at a Premier League game as pressure mounted on present incumbent Louis van Gaal.
It’s not the first time Mourinho has been strongly linked with United – he was considered to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson when he left in 2013. On that occasion, doubts over Mourinho’s personality and style of football – most notably from United non-executive director and former player Sir Bobby Charlton – led to David Moyes being appointed.
But is Mourinho really the perfect fit for United? This is a club whose fans – and rich history – demand entertainment. They expect flair and excitement, as well as silverware.
Grinding out victories isn’t in the Red Devils’ DNA and won’t cut if for long – as Van Gaal discovered earlier this season when his team were among the frontrunners following a string of tedious, yet efficient, performances.
Mourinho gets results wherever he’s been – that’s been proven – but bold, attacking and adventurous football isn’t necessarily his way. A quick glance at the Portuguese’s CV will also tell you that, while hugely successful, he is no Ferguson or Arsene Wenger when it comes to longevity at one club. For whatever reason, two, three or at most four seasons and he seems to be on the move.
Having gone through Moyes and now seemingly Van Gaal, the Old Trafford outfit needs some long-term stability.
United are also famed for developing and promoting talent through their youth ranks. This season alone, albeit through necessity, the likes of Jesse Lingard and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson have been handed a chance and have impressed. A look at the number of young players Mourinho sent out on loan while in charge at Chelsea – a staggering 33 when the current season kicked off – shows almost a polar opposite approach. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is the only real academy product to be given any sort of extended opportunity under Mourinho.
Yes, the arrival of Jose may signal a return to regular Champions League action for United, it may even have them seriously challenging for the title again next season … but ultimately will that be enough for the club’s millions of expectant fans worldwide?
SALIA SONIE
Feb 10, 2016 at 8:29 am
He’s the man now to wrestle Pep. Absolutely yesssssssss…….
Druid
Feb 10, 2016 at 9:18 am
If Man U can get Mourinho to sign; they swhould do so post haste. No other quality manager would give Man U any consideration, particularly as a career advancing move. So long as Woodward is in charge Man u is going dumpster diving- mediocre players and substandard manadement. Mourinho probably has enough skills to keep them close to the middle of the table. If Woodward is staying; Mourinho is the best prospect.
Martin Keane
Feb 10, 2016 at 9:25 am
It’s going to be great to watch them in the technical area.
Jcmanu66
Feb 11, 2016 at 5:21 am
IM. A 4th generation red devil & I’ve followed them thru good and bad, the big problem at utd is Ed deadwood, he’s a genious at getting partners to part with huge amount of sponsor money , but that’s where his involvement with utd should stop. It’s incredible that the directors at utd still have him in total control of who is our manager, he should immediately be put in charge of sponsors and taking away from the football side cause as it’s been proved by MOYES and van GOWL he knows nothing about soccer, as for the next manager , I genuinely don’t know who to say, yes jose will beig success but at what cost , and I don’t mean money cost but the cost to your great time proved academy , an academy that other world clubs are jealous off and an academy that brings thdy great talent every year, looking at our under 21’s this year, they would finish in the top half of the BPL if they played a season in it, jose woujd no doubt destroy it for years to come unless the board make it very clear to jose that if he wants the job he has to embrace the academy as had every manager since before Sir matt has, he also needs to be told about his 3 yr attitude and that we at Utd are not like Chelsea where he can cause all the trouble he wants and gets away with it, people have wonderded why Chelsea started the season so bad and I find it no coincidence that when jose called the doctor a daughter of a whore and got her sacked , the team who loves this doctor plus the fans fell out with jose and after that it was only when & not if when he would get sacked , if utd wants the title next year jose is the man but he had to sign a contract that says he will totally change his ways or he’s gone at the first sign of trouble , after him I think that giggs must be given a 5 yr contract that says his first year is all about top 3 finish and then while he builds up his team around the average age that LVG had introduced which is about 24 yrs old , he needs to start winning tithes and cups every year just like SAF did , but he needs a 5 yr contract minimum and we all need to get behind him, he could we’ll be the next Saf & be manager for nect 25 years.
But first ed woodword needs to step down as director and stay as our main sponsor man,