WHY JOSE IS OUT IN THE COLD
United would prefer Giggs to high-maintenance Mourinho
IN the end Real Madrid concluded that a gamble on Zinedine Zidane was more palatable than a second stint with Jose Mourinho. that was perhaps understandable given the acrimonious circumstances of Mourinho’s departure from the Bernabeu and his decline at Chelsea, and it might yet be enough to persuade Manchester United to do something similar.
In Ryan Giggs they have their answer to Zidane; a legendary former player in position to take over come the next managerial change.
And there is understood to be a growing desire among members of the Old trafford hierarchy to see him given that opportunity before opting for Mourinho and all the baggage that comes with the combustible Portuguese manager.
According to sources yesterday, the situation does remain a fairly fluid one. there is no firm plan. No clear strategy. Louis van Gaal is in charge for now and he continues in the knowledge that the man who recruited him, the executive vicechairman ed Woodward, is desperate to see him succeed.
having only appointed David Moyes and van Gaal since replacing David Gill as the club’s chief kingmaker, Woodward does not want another failure so soon into his tenure.
the next few games nevertheless remain important, with a potentially pivotal encounter at Liverpool following an FA Cup tie with Sheffield United and a Premier League trip to Newcastle.
If a defeat at Anfield were to end another difficult three-game spell, the Dutchman’s future could once again be on the agenda.
Mourinho would then come under the same consideration as he did when his recent dismissal at Chelsea co-incided with a series of abject displays for United under van Gaal.
United were definitely tempted, with communication between the club and the Mourinho camp seemingly taking place in some form. But the mere fact that they chose to leave things as they were after a slight i mprovement in performances more than illustrates the concerns they have about a manager as high-maintenance as he is high-achieving.
the question is whether they would be brave enough to trust Giggs to step up amid what would be another mid-season crisis.
Preferable to such upheaval would be a solid finish to the season under van Gaal with the opportunity to then appoint Giggs, thus giving their most decorated player the summer to prepare for the new campaign.
the word is, officials at United would certainly find it difficult not to give the j ob to Giggs this summer, even if there is no denying Mourinho’s ability to deliver shortterm success before those selfdestructive tendencies kick in.
Quite where it leaves Mourinho is unclear. Last night there was f urther talk of Roma, and an invitation to return to Italy might yet prove attractive when the former Inter Milan boss has made no secret of his desire to get back to work as rapidly as possible.
But United surely remain the more exciting challenge, so perhaps the challenge facing Mourinho and his representatives is to convince Woodward that he can work with him; that he should not be deterred by problems Mourinho has had.
the snub from Madrid probably strengthens Woodward’s bargaining position were they to enter serious discussions.
With fewer options available to Mourinho he might have to agree to certain ground rules.
But then he might also have to first take responsibility for the damage he has inflicted on his own professional reputation. he needs to ask himself why, having apparently entertained the idea of bringing Mourinho back to the Santiago Bernabeu, Florentino Perez opted for Zidane. And to recognise why senior players still at the club could not think of anything worse than a second term of the Specialal One.
Why is it Chelsea’s players are only now starting to play like the side that so won last season’s Premier League title? Guush dink has not performed a managerial miracle. he just isn’t Mourinho.
there are those at United who would have preferred Carlo Ancelotti and admire Bayernn Munich for their decisive--ness. Before succeedingng Pep Guardiola in t he summer the affable Italian can master another language as well as improve his knowledge of German football.
For Mourinho, and indeed United, the future appears more uncertain.