Forget a centre-half, Jose needs a leader
JOSE MOURINHO needs a centre-half to shore up Manchester United’s defence.
But that’s not his biggest recruitment problem in the new year – as there’s one position he needs to fill more than that: Team leader.
United under Mourinho may be many things – but one thing they do not possess is the kind of figurehead around whom standards are set and ruthlessly enforced.
The current boss knows it too. That’s why he’s rounded on younger players such as Luke Shaw, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, accusing them of ‘lacking character’.
Let’s roll back the clock to the days when Ron Atkinson was in his pomp.
Bryan Robson was the man who led by example – and not just in the bar amid the famed Old Trafford drinking school.
During the early years under Sir Alex Ferguson, it was the likes of Peter Schmeichel and Steve Bruce who helped maintain order.
Throughout United’s own golden generation, Roy Keane took charge.
Sure, the Irishman had a short fuse but once the gongs had been handed out at the end of the campaign and then put away, the midfielder concentrated the club’s focus on the next challenge. When Keane departed, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville, among others, shouldered the responsibility. Since then, what? There has been little more than a vacuum.
One glance at United’s rivals shows the importance of a proper standard bearer.
Over at the Etihad, Vincent Kompany (below, left) has played but a handful of matches for Manchester City these past few years.
Yet no one doubts that the big man is still a powerful voice behind the closed doors of Pep Guardiola’s dressing room.
Down the East Lancs Road, Liverpool’s senior professionals – led by Captain Perfect himself, James Milner (below, right) and followed by Jordan Henderson – are seasoned and understand the requirements demanded at Anfield.
Harry Kane (below, centre) leads his country, the Tottenham frontline and is the talisman behind the surge into the Champions League spots by Mauricio Pochettino’s men.
Who does Mourinho have to rely upon? Paul Pogba?
Can you just imagine how Keane would have greeted the Frenchman’s latest haircut?
World Cup winner or not, he would have been ripped to pieces.
Lingard’s dance moves? Not on Keano’s watch.
Who else is going to step forward these days? To be honest, there aren’t that many who can say they are automatic choices.
David De Gea? World-class he may be, but can you see the keeper wading into the likes of Romelu Lukaku the way that Schmeichel might have done?
The big striker is going to take no notice of a Spanish lightweight.
Why does it matter, anyway?
Well, unless there are senior professionals to ensure that the manager’s instructions are carried out, or unless those same older players hammer home key messages to the younger ones, how is any continuity in performance maintained?
How are the values of Manchester United maintained?
If they aren’t, they become just another club.
Players such as the Robsons, Schmeichels and Keanes of this world were serial winners.
By brute force, intimidation or example they ensured winning became a welcome habit at Old Trafford.
Mourinho’s team are still some way short of others in the Premier League.
And if the club wants to close the gap, quite apart from a new centre-half, they need someone to lead them properly in the dressing room.