Mourinho’s men drive Ole revival
Jose’s signings Fred and Matic make life easier for Solskjaer
WHO’D have thought Jose Mourinho would have left a legacy at Old Trafford after all?
If Manchester United aren’t wowing them at the Theatre of Dreams, there are baby steps of improvement under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with only one goal conceded in four games ahead of today’s Premier League clash with Watford.
Solskjaer will point to summer buys Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka as factors, but equally important has been the protective role played by Mourinho signings Nemanja Matic and Fred in front of them.
Matic, 31, has been integral to United’s improvement, though he now faces competition from fit-again Scott McTominay.
The towering holding midfielder is a rare title winner in Solskjaer’s callow squad, but was a scapegoat for United’s poor early-season form and then missed two months with injury.
Since his return in December, United have kept eight clean sheets in the 14 matches the Serbian has played. He’s started eight of the last nine, missing the other through suspension. In the final year of his contract he is doing everything to get United to offer another one.
‘That is football,’ says Matic of his topsy-turvy campaign. ‘I knew things can turn in football and now I am fit, happy, playing. It’s the same for players of any age — believe you’ll get a chance and, when it comes, take it.
‘It’s much easier when you play all the time. You gain more confidence. Playing once a month, that is hard.
‘We are all part of getting clean sheets, but particularly those at the back, me as a defensive midfielder. We’ve progressed and I’m proud of it. We talk to each other. We communicate. Everyone tries to be involved.
‘I’m happy Scott is back. There is always space in the team for good players. I’m not worried. He is the kind of player I like to train with. As a person, he’s very good.’
It’s ironic that Solskjaer arrived with a mission to restore United’s attacking football with young players. But it’s more traditional qualities that have prompted United’s recent momentum, symbolised by a Mourinho devotee like Matic.
Solskjaer has embraced the importance of leadership. Maguire has responded to being made captain. January signing
Bruno Fernandes has impressed with his vocal skills as much as his technical ones. They are themes Mourinho also stressed, but in a surly way. Solskjaer says similar things with a smile.
‘I didn’t expect Harry to be captain this quickly, but he’s got everything a leader should have. It was natural for him to take the role,’ said the United boss.
‘Harry is his own man. United is, if not the biggest, one of the two or three biggest clubs in the world and he’s the front man. You have to be thickskinned. You can’t sulk or feel sorry for yourself. We’ve got a few men and some boys in our squad. He has to be an example for everyone. Churn out games, play time and time again.
‘He organises paintballing, he organises a fining system, he’s taken on everything.’
As for Fernandes: ‘Another conductor,’ is how Solskjaer describes him. ‘He reminds me of Scholesy as a player, but is a different type of person off the pitch. On the bench in Bruges he walked around, spoke to the starters, helped them, gave them pointers. He’s made a difference to the team.’