End Of Jose Mourinho?
Adefeat by rivals Liverpool left Manchester United with their lowest points tally at this stage of a Premier League season and ex-players and pundits put the boot into Jose Mourinho’s side.
Three years ago, on 17 December 2015, Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea.
Just a day short of that anniversary and the question on many people’s lips was: will the same fate be on the cards at Old Trafford? Former United and England defender Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: “I think it will happen - my preference would always be to get to the end of the season. But the board room is so naive it’s unbelievable.
“The minute he [Mourinho] came back from pre-season he was at it and the club was out of control. Nobody above him can handle him. They don’t know what to do with him, they don’t know what to say to him. They don’t know what he’s going to say at every press conference. It will cost a fortune to lose him now.”
United were outplayed in Sunday’s 3-1 loss at Anfield, which leaves them in sixth, 19 points off leaders Liverpool.
Former Newcastle and England striker Alan Shearer, speaking on Match of the Day, said: “At the moment in that Manchester United team, only David de Gea is performing to his potential. “Something has to change at the club. The board either has to get rid of the manager or back him and let him get the players he wants because there is a lot of work needed in that team. There’s a lack of ability.
“The board clearly didn’t back him in the summer. Jose had his targets and for whatever reason they weren’t allowed to come in. “But it’s not always the manager’s fault. I don’t think many United players came off on Sunday thinking they had done their best.”
“If you came down from the moon today and knew nothing about football, you’d say United are an average Premier League side, nothing more,” said former United captain Roy Keane.
“They are Manchester United of the 1980s. They can be a decent cup team.”
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 live, ex Leicester City and Wales midfielder Robbie Savage added: “United have been so poor, pathetic. “There can be no excuses now. They’ve spent plenty of money, they’ve brought players into the club - you’ve got over £100m on the bench. To be this far behind is ridiculous, really. It’s not acceptable. “Everything that United used to be, Liverpool are now.” His sentiment was echoed by Neville, who added: “Liverpool are streets ahead. Not one of the United midfielders can pass a football. I find it staggering. United were awful. It’s not good enough.”
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