Demands from fans at Old Trafford are simple – they want a brave manager who sets up the team to win
THERE is a good chance Manchester City will clinch the title against Manchester United at the Etihad next month. Depending how results go, a win or draw could be enough for Pep Guardiola to win his first Premier League title in front of his great rival Jose Mourinho and against City’s even greater city rvials.
What will Mourinho do? He knows he has to win but there is only one way he knows how to do it. After the embarrassing Champions League exit this week, now this for Mourinho. This is a pressurised time for the United manager – perhaps that 12-minute monologue of self-pity on Friday is evidence of that – and in the era of Guardiola, Klopp, Pochettino, the Old Trafford faithful want more.
I was at the game on Tuesday and there was a terrific atmosphere in and around Old Trafford in the build-up. But as soon as we saw Marouane Fellaini’s name on the team-sheet, we knew the game was going to be played at a slower tempo.
And I am not singling him out. The back four didn’t squeeze in enough and play a high-line and get the midfield off their toes which would have also enabled Marcus Rashford and Alexis Sanchez to get further forward.
Mourinho only had to make one signal from the touchline to make that happen, but he didn’t. He has always had success doing it his way and being pragmatic against the big teams.
But I can’t emphasise this enough. This was Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Champions League against Sevilla. Not Inter Milan beating Barcelona. It was Sevilla. He was undone by a poor team.
Where does this leave Mourinho? He has just signed a new contract so he will not be going anywhere just yet.
But he is under pressure and he needs a good start and sustained title challenge next season to get the fans and critics off his back.
Whoever has been in charge since Alex Ferguson left has had to live with the great man’s legacy.
Of course United fans look back on the glory years and remember the wonderful European victories against the cream of Europe. Mourinho, Moyes, van Gaal