As United Sink, Can Mourinho Swim?

As Jose Mourinho’s near ritualistic trip to the US and to the UCLA campus in Los Angeles took place once again, there was a damning lack of optimism in and around the Manchester United community. Born out of Mourinho’s public actions, the Portuguese coach already appeared tired and visibly lacked the optimism and passion which saw him make a stark ascent to the top of European football.

Mourinho’s tone was of someone who did not want to be where he was from minute one - but we do not know what was going on behind the scenes. The board, spearheaded by Chief Executive Ed Woodward appear to not be delivering on Mourinho’s desires: something which, for the most part, is not happening amongst the other top sides in the Premier League. Mourinho wanted five signings at the beginning of the break - we can speculate, but the list of recruits most likely included Toby Alderweireld and Mourinho had identified issues at both left and right back which needed to be addressed as well as holes on the wing and in midfield. Despite identifying these clear cut issues Woodward has thus far only delivered Fred, a quick central midfielder who set the club back over 50 million pounds and Diogo Dalot, an injured 19 year old right back from Portuguese giants FC Porto. In addition to these two, 35 year old backup goalkeeper Lee Grant joined from Stoke for 1.5M pounds, allowing Joel Pereira to leave on loan.

The window has not delivered Jose’s wants, which have now become United’s desperate needs. Mourinho’s dire attitude and commentary on the tour is indicative of the suffocated state he now finds himself in at Manchester United. Despite not delivering for him, the board and Woodward are Mourinho’s biggest backers at United as his supporter base depletes at an ever quickening pace. Thus the Portuguese is in a corner - servicing the boards desires and trying to keep the fans on side by dropping hints at how they are not meeting his requests. The United boards lack of activity is sending the club into dissarray as the Glazer’s continue to run the club as a business rather than a football club, spending when in trouble and consolidating expenditure when in a position to strike. Thus, Mourinho’s situation is not to be envied. Seldom would a manager at a top side in this climate submit a rather slim list of players he feels can lead to a title challenge and not receive anywhere near half of the spoken to list, and the fact that many of the players can not be sold heightens the negativity around the window. Supposedly bartering over the finer details in the transfer of the frankly embarrassing Darmian and struggling to clear out other players marked as deadwood. The club are bafflingly slow in the market. It raises the question: who could do a better job with both hands tied behind their back and not having the full backing of the board?

Jose Mourinho is at his best when his back is against the wall. Rival fans, the press and even some of his own are constantly firing at the him and the challenge is there for Jose to answer up to. Guardiola and Klopp have both been given the keys to the kingdom at their respective clubs and despite the undeniable attractiveness of both sides trophies must be expected of them, but often Mourinho and United are looked as if they had eclipsed the other sides in spending and in recruitment - but that is simply not the case.

The evidence is there that he can maximise individual performances from his teams when it matters, and United’s record against sides in the top six last season was exceptional. Wins at home to Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs as well as away performances at Arsenal and most notably Man City but them second in the top six head to head with four wins and three losses, along with the draw at Anfield. Should he do that again this year and improve on the losses to smaller sides (the likes of Huddersfield and Brighton) anything can happen, regardless of the brand of football he plays. Success has followed Mourinho everywhere he goes and he must be given a third year at United to prove his worth, despite not having access to the well of resources some of the worlds other top managers do.

At the end of the day, Mourinho’s United will either systematically combust or will storm to an unlikely but hard fought Premier League title. The Portuguese manager can definitely be the man to bring the title back to Old Trafford this year, but it will be out of graft and will be against the odds. There is little doubt in the minds of football fans across the world that Mourinho is in fact a great manager. But in Manchester he faces his biggest challenge to date, with the juggernaut of Manchester City and their gargantuan spending it will be a test of his true greatness should he surge toward a title win.