United facing striking issue
SUMMER TARGET GRIEZMANN ‘HAPPY’ IN SPAIN, WHILE ZLATAN IS LINKED WITH SWITCH TO LA GALAXY
UNITED are facing the prospect of missing out on their top transfer target – and losing their star striker.
Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann is believed to the main signing Jose Mourinho wants to bring to Old Trafford in the summer.
But the Frenchman he has said he has ‘no reason to leave’ the Spanish club.
Meanwhile, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has held talks with LA Galaxy as his Reds future remains unsure.
Former Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas has said that contact has been made with regards to United’s 26-goal top scorer moving to the MLS.
Griezmann told Spanish TV station RTVE: “I’m very happy here. Weather helps a lot. The teammates I have are the best, a top manager, so I’m very good here and there’s no reason to leave.”
Griezmann, 25, recently became Atletico Madrid’s top Champions League goalscorer after striking in the 4-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen.
The France star’s 13th goal in Europe’s premier competition broke a club record that had stood for more than 40 years.
And, speaking after the game, Griezmann appeared to distance himself from speculation linking him with a move away from the Vicente Calderon.
“I’m proud to become part of Atletico’s history with my goal and hopefully I can carry on making history here,” he said.
Ibrahimovic signed for Jose Mourinho last summer when he became a free agent at Paris St Germain. But the American club were keen on his signature then.
The 35-year-old striker preferred the Old Trafford and Premier League challenge and he’s been a success. But he has yet to commit to another season at United prompting suggestions he’s US-bound at the end of the season.
“There have been conversations and, I think, a relationship for some time regarding this possible move,” former international Lalas told the BBC. “The Galaxy are Major League Soccer’s ‘super club’. They do big, bold things.
“They have sexy signings, that’s what they have built themselves as, that’s what they sell themselves as, and this type of signing would fall right into play with that. “I think they do have a chance. “And whether it’s this summer or maybe a year from now I still think there’s going to be interest.”
Mourinho changed the culture of English football with his use of the lone striker Ciaran Kelly
EVEN Antonio Conte did not think it could work at first.
In his first game as Chelsea manager, against West Ham in August, the Italian used the same template his predecessor had left him.
There was just one subtle change from the title-winning side who drew with Swansea exactly a year previously: N’Golo Kante coming in for Cesc Fabregas in a 4-2-3-1.
But fast-forward seven months and Chelsea look set to become the first side to win the title with a back three since Everton in 1962.
It begs the question: could Jose Mourinho put his own stamp on the formation at United?
The Portuguese has made his name for his cookie cutter approach – taking the same principles with him wherever he goes – but his coaching bible has been heavily edited after spells in Portugal, Italy, Spain and England. And that has already been obvious in his short time at Old Trafford. The Portuguese’s ability to ‘smell’ a situation may not be what it once was, but he has been open to trying new things in recent months. Mourinho started with two strikers in a 4-4-2 against Leicester last month and while it did not work out, it showed he is open to moving away from his trusted 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1. And three at the back has come up trumps for him, too. Mourinho changed the game against Middlesbrough on New Year’s Eve by bringing Marcus Rashford on for Chris Smalling and moving to a gung-ho 3-5-2. It was a refreshing change, given how Mourinho relied on simply throwing Marouane Fellaini up top for much of the season, and worked a lot better than when Louis van Gaal toyed with the formation in 2014. After bringing on Jesse Lingard at wing-back against Bournemouth, the Portuguese again went in search of a winner with three at the back.
A minute after Lingard came on, the Reds won a penalty. Coincidence? And, against Rostov, it kept the Russian side’s two strikers, Aleksandar Bukharov and Dmitri Poloz, relatively quiet.
But, without a ball-playing centre-back and with Luke Shaw still finding his feet positionally under Mourinho, it would be a bold move for the manager to abandon his trusted template.
Mourinho, it must be remembered, changed the culture of English football with his use of a lone striker, Didier Drogba, in 2004.
The idea of playing three at the back to counter this seemed pointless as it meant a Mourinho team would easily dominate with an extra man in midfield.
Throughout his managerial career, Mourinho has always favoured a four-man defence with a full-back who is able to tuck in when required.
That is what made William Gallas so important during the Portuguese’s first spell at Chelsea.
The Frenchman was happy to come inside to support Ricardo Carvalho and John Terry when Chelsea did not have the ball and disciplined enough not to cross the halfway line when the Blues had possession.
In supporting Antonio Valencia, who is one of the Portuguese’s favourite players at United, Mourinho needs a less adventurous left-back who can do a tactical job for him.
Shaw is beginning to prove that he has the fight and tactical discipline to become that player.
And, given the success of the 3-5-2 at Euro 2016, with Italy and Wales, his future may yet lie at wingback.
Chelsea have proved it can be used at the highest level and it has rarely been breached this season.
Can you think of many occasions where wingers have been able to create a two-versus-one situation against Chelsea with a full-back in support?
United certainly did not the last time they played at Stamford Bridge in that 4-0 drubbing in October.
But, for Mourinho, his ultimate triumph at Old Trafford will be doing it his way and proving that his methods are still very much in fashion.