Jose’s style is no surprise but he will still provoke a mutiny if it doesn’t change
WHEN a guest by the name of Mrs Richards complains about the view from her room at Fawlty Towers, Basil replies as you would imagine.
“Well, may I ask what you expected to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically?”
Those of us who complain about Jose Mourinho’s style of play should really expect the same sort of riposte.
“Well, may I ask what you expected to see out of a Mourinho team? Fullbacks galloping forward with gay abandon? Holding midfielders doing handsprings? Wide men gleefully neglecting their defensive duties? Shots from outlandish angles?”
The football Manchester United produce is Mourinho football, practical football.
Anyone who expected any different was delusional. But his refusal to even contemplate a more expansive style – and don’t forget, they have been better than 18 other Premier League teams to this point – will only be part of the reason United fans will soon be mutinous.
Because short of his expressing an admiration for Liverpool supporters, it is hard to see how Mourinho can further wind up the United faithful.
It looks like he is just deliberately trying to annoy them. How else can you interpret the following?
* His suggestion that going out of the Champions League at this stage is no big deal.
* His reminder that HE has eliminated United at Old Trafford in European competition... twice.
* His claim that it was not a bad performance against Sevilla.
* His inference last Saturday that fans were wrong to be aggrieved at a negative Scott McTominay pass.
* His idea that United do not have a blue-chip European pedigree. * Marouane Fellaini. And that’s not to mention his voracious appetite for personal deals that now see him ready to take untold roubles from Russia Today, the Kremlin-financed TV channel.
Fans are probably not bothered about that sort of commercial stuff as long as United are winning and playing decent football.
When they do neither, like against Sevilla, it might raise hackles.
Five different teams have put five past Sevilla in a single match this season… United could manage just one consolation over two games.
It is becoming really difficult to comprehend Mourinho’s master plan at United if, indeed, there is one.
Supporters will probably take a win against Liverpool in any fashion but, even if victories are eked out, how long will they put up with a United team that, in big matches, consistently has less possession and far fewer shots than the opposition and surrenders territorial advantage, even at home?
And even in matches against more humdrum foes, their attacking intent can be limited. In seven consecutive games now, they have had fewer attempts at goal than their opponents.
Only once in their last nine matches have they had more attempts than their opponents and that was in the 2-0 win over Huddersfield at Old Trafford on February 3.
It does not seem to matter too much to Ed Woodward, who gets his entertainment from the balance sheets. As long as someone is willing to sign up as an official noodle partner, everything is hunky-dory.
Shots on target? Pah, it’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram hits that count, and just look at how many we got for Alexis Sanchez and his piano.
Shame Mourinho can’t get a tune out of the £600,000-a-week man but, never mind, just feel the social media reach.
Which is all well and good but, eventually, the supporters will turn.
They might not expect the most exciting view but they expect to see themselves respected.