Woodward tries to steady United
Jose Mourhino stepped in front of the media for his post match interview, as Football League rules demand. His side had been beaten 3-1 by Brighton and we all knew the post match meeting would be difficult. However, down the corridor, without Mourinho’s knowledge, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward took the opportunity to spend time with the players in their dressing room. He went in to reassure them, following their 3-1 defeat to Brighton at the Amex Stadium, that the club and directors are behind the manager and the players and times will get better for United. It was a pep talk from a man who needs the world’s most famous club to succeed. What Mourinho thought of this I am unsure however buzzing around the ground during the defeat was the name Zinedine Zidan the ex-manager of Real Madrid. I have been told that he might be interested in taking over at United if the current crisis is not resolved. Mourinho’s difficult summer, when he criticised the board for not bringing in the players he wanted, his public falling out with star midfielder Paul Pogba and his general bad moods on the pre-season tour of the US were all factors that convinced Woodward to get involved. Losing 3-1 to Brighton was not on the United agenda but the way in which they lost was pure misery for United fans. What motivated Woodward to speak to the players was the shambolic way that United played and the general lack of passion from the players. Most of us took that to mean the manager has lost his own dressing room and the players are not performing for him or they are not good enough. There was silence in the dressing room and Woodward was shocked at how fed up the players seemed to be. Could this be Mourinho’s “third season syndrome” which I have written about previously. Mourhino comes into a club, turns everything upside down, spends £400million over three years and then things turn sour and go wrong and he walks away or gets sacked blaming everyone but himself. It certainly seems to have happened more quickly this season than we all expected. Next game up is Tottenham away on Monday evening and we all know how hard that is going to be. The match is probably one of the most important in Mourinho’s career and another loss will be hard to deal with. Both Bailly and Lindelof, who are both Mourinho signings, could not cope with the Brighton attack so goodness knows what Kane, Alli and Erikson will do to them. I am told that Woodward could pay a visit to the training ground and that will not please Mourinho. Woodward is just trying to keep the wheels on the track because ultimately his own job is on the line and although he has made a lot of money for the Glazer family owners, United have to be successful to carry on making money. Already bets are being taken that United will be the first to sack a Premier League manager this season and at present that looks like a good bet despite Woodward’s positive words to the players.
New Chelsea boss Mauricio Sarri believes Eden Hazard could become the best player in the world. He says that playing a little bit differently will make Eden even better. He said, “It depends on his position on the pitch. In the last five years Cristiano Renaldo has played like a direct striker. Lionel Messi has played like a direct striker. Eden sometimes has played like a winger and made opportunities for others. Eden is technically one of the best players in Europe and if I can improve him physically and move him more inside, the goals will come with ease for this amazingly talented player.” Ruben Loftus-Cheek has heard from his boss that he will have chances to play for the Chelsea first squad this season and not to consider a loan move abroad. Ruben is very anxious to remain part of the England national team set-up and knows that he can only achieve that by playing regularly. His non-involvement last weekend, when he was left out of the Chelsea squad, depressed and worried him and he thought about continental loan possibilities. Manager Maurizio Sarri took him to one side on Monday at the first training session and told Ruben that he is very much part of his plans and not to worry. Chelsea brought in Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic this month and he took Loftus-Cheek’s place on the bench. Ross Barkley took the starting place on the field. Germany’s Schalke and several French clubs have all contacted Chelsea and lodged their interest in signing Ruben. The European transfer window closes at the end of August but if Ruben stays until January and is still not happy with his opportunities at the Blues he could seek a return to Crystal Palace where he impressed last season whilst on loan. Palace, I have been told, would be very interested in signing him permanently. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has given his assistants very precise instructions. Toughen up and strengthen new goalkeeper Alisson. He might be among the top five goalkeepers in the world but the manager wants him to be prepared for the physical demands of the Premier League. On the training field Klopp has been putting 15 to 22 players into the penalty area and firing ball after ball into the middle of the pack. They have instructions to hassle, push and distract the goalkeeper with their physical presence and give him plenty of practice at fighting for his own space from a free kick situation. Following that test, Alisson was then given what we know as “rugby training”. Coaching assistants hold rugby crash barriers and players have to run at full speed crashing their shoulders into heavy cushioned pads. The £68million signing and Brazilian national keeper was certainly enjoying himself and said that he has never experienced such training before. He came off the training field exhausted but looking very pleased with his morning’s work.
Jamie Vardy is not a dirty player and his red card last weekend has upset him. He contacted Wolves defender Matt Doherty after the game and apologized for the dangerous tackle which saw Matt taken off the field. Vardy was very honest and said at the King Power Stadium this week, “I made the wrong choice and should not have made that tackle. But sometimes we do something in a split second and it can change a game! Learn and move on.” He will miss the next three games as punishment starting with Leicester’s next game against Southampton.
Manchester City have told me that Kevin de Bruyne is responding well to treatment but the 27 year-old will definitely spend a minimum of another six weeks on the sidelines. He is currently receiving specialist physio treatment. Kevin caught his studs in the turf and suffered a lateral collalateral ligament (LCL) lesion in his right knee. He has been on crutches ever since. City told me that surgery has been ruled out but Kevin will struggle to be fit for the games against Liverpool on October 7th and Tottenham on October 28th unless that match is re-scheduled due to Spur’s new stadium not being ready.