If United’s stars perform in Russia, why not for Jose?
What if Paul Pogba has a great world Cup this summer? what will that say of the past year at Manchester United? Marcus Rashford, too. Suppose he makes an impact for England in Russia, even coming off the bench? what if he plays with a freedom and joy we haven’t seen this season? what will it say of the stewardship of Jose Mourinho? The season ended rather grimly for Manchester’s second best club. Not just the FA Cup final defeat, but a series of low-scoring, low-key games. United scored once in four matches — with Brighton, west Ham and watford among the opponents. This shifted focus to the worst aspects of their season and undermined talk of significant improvement, even if the numbers are better than last year. And now United’s players head to Russia. what if they sparkle there? what if international coaches get more from Pogba and Rashford than Mourinho? It is not a good look when the national team becomes an escape from an oppressive club regime. Pep Guardiola is already credited with the revival of several international careers. Gareth Southgate says he helped inspire Kyle walker’s reinvention as a right-sided centre half.
Raheem Sterling’s elevation to the No 10 role with England is also thanks to his emergence as a goalscoring threat for Manchester City. Less is made of Mourinho’s influence. Jesse Lingard is now a viable option for Southgate and Phil Jones has benefited from a tighter defence — even if Saturday’s performance was an aberration — but Rashford has lost his way in the two years since Euro 2016. He was the bolter elevated to Roy Hodgson’s squad and it was thought he might be an England regular by now. Yet being in and out of United’s squad appears to have dented his confidence and few anticipate a place in the starting line-up with England this summer. It is a strange dynamic. It is good for Manchester United if their players thrive in Russia, but it might place greater scrutiny on Mourinho. There are mitigating circumstances for the career paths of Kevin De Bruyne and Mo Salah under him at Chelsea. Neither player showed anything but glimpses of current potential and Mourinho won the league with more experienced forwards. Yet Pogba was considered one of the best in the world when he returned to old Trafford. If that is the player we see once more at the world Cup, why do we still seek him in a Manchester United shirt?