Mourinho is the true master of deadline day
THE TV pictures of the Sky Sports reporter standing outside Manchester United’s training ground on transfer deadline day said it all. Nothing to see here. Business done. Can I go home? While their rivals spent a frantic 24 hours trying to get deals over the line – mostly ending up thwarted and disappointed – United selected their targets early, paid the full-asking price without bartering and got them in the team. Consequently, they lead the Premier League with a 100% record.
Instead of sweating on medicals and waiting for negotiators to win games of brinksmanship, Mourinho was probably sitting with his feet up, a glass of red in hand and watching what Channel 4 made of Bake-Off or the season finale of Game of Thrones.
He identified the three positions he wanted to strengthen – central striker, defensive midfielder and centre-back – and got exactly what he wanted before a ball was kicked in earnest.
Contrast that with the scattergun approach of his rivals.
Liverpool have been crying out for a dominant centre-half all summer. But instead of finding an alternative to Virgil van Dijk, they made another wide midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain their marquee signing, gloating that they gazumped Chelsea.
The Champions also lost out to Tottenham on Fernando Lorente, saw Ross Barkley walk out of their training ground during a medical, then signed Danny Drinkwater at the 13th hour.
Manchester City delayed until the last day to make Arsenal an acceptable offer for Alexis Sanchez, even though it was crystal-clear he was their key target.
The Gunners then decided to try to buy Thomas Lemar from Monaco with an extraordinary offer of twice what they paid for Alexandre Lacazette. But the young Frenchman unsurprisingly declined to join a club whose transfer dealings have been shambolic.
City blamed Arsenal for the mess, but they only have themselves to blame for missing their other late target, Jonny Evans.
Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy doesn’t switch on his phone until deadline day, so it’s never a surprise when they enter the market late, looking for bargains.
Lorente and Serge Aurier arrived for comparatively low fees, but neither makes the first XI stronger.
So while other managers were left frustrated, one sailed serenely through the chaos.
Mourinho enjoys a good smirk. This time it’s completely justified.