It is a difficult time to be a Manchester United supporter. The Red Devils have had a torrid start to the 2018/19 campaign. Heading into the November’s international break, they sit a lowly 8th in the Premier League standings, having already lost four of their 12 league outings.
The 20-time English champions were outclassed by a rampant Manchester City side last weekend as Pep Guardiola’s champions defeated Jose Mourinho’s men 3-1 in the first Manchester derby of the season at the Etihad. The outcome of the game and the manner in which the defeat came about has once again intensified the pressure on Mourinho.
The self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ has been under the cosh since the start of the season. Entering his third year with the Mancunians, after a season where he failed to lead the club to any silverware, things were always going to be difficult for the Portuguese. And some inept dealings in the transfer window on the part of the club further handicapped the manager.
Defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United early in the season piled on the pressure. Reports of rifts within the squad started doing the rounds and the relationship between the manager and CEO Ed Woodward were believed to have broken down completely. And soon enough, Zinedine Zidane emerged as a strong candidate to replace Mourinho at the club (h/t Daily Star).
However, a sensational comeback 3-2 win over Newcastle United last month seemed to have done enough to stay the former Real Madrid and Chelsea manager’s execution. And the draw against Chelsea, followed by comeback wins against Bournemouth – and Juventus in the UEFA Champions League – meant there was some positivity returning to Old Trafford.
But the defeat to City has undone all the work over the past month, with questions over Mourinho’s future resurfacing again.
As much as he has won in the past, it is not hard to see that Mourinho’s tactics seem outdated. Under him, Manchester United have lost their fear factor and teams back themselves to take points off them. A negative goal difference 12 matches into the season is just not acceptable for a team of United’s stature. And while a lot of that has had to do with the players not performing, the manager also needs to take responsibility.
Mourinho’s refusal to drop Nemanja Matic – who has looked so pedestrian in the ongoing campaign – his reluctance to bring back Eric Bailly – a defender he signed – back into the scheme of things continue to baffle. There is no question that the Portuguese needs to change his modus operandi in order to get the best out of the players.
However, sacking the Portuguese midway through the campaign might not be the most prudent choice for the club. For starters, who are they going to replace him with?
For everything Zidane achieved at Real Madrid, he had a squad full of superstars across every area of the pitch, led by one of the best players to have ever played the game, Cristiano Ronaldo. And it would be folly to think that the Frenchman would be able to achieve similar success with this United squad right away.
Antonio Conte is another name that pops up, but given the Italian’s acrimonious exit from Chelsea and the way his relationship with the squad and the club hierarchy broke down, he might end up being similar to Mourinho in many ways. And there is no way that Manchester United can coax Mauricio Pochettino to leave his pet project at Tottenham midway through the season and move to Old Trafford.
And that is why, United need to give Mourinho more time to get things right. Yes, there is a sense of stagnation under the Portuguese. Yes, the performances have been utterly poor. But, if one thing Jose has shown throughout his career, it is that he relishes these situations. With his reputation on the line, he will find a way to bounce back.
Hence, United must go ahead and back him in the January window by getting him the defensive reinforcements he is seeking so ardently and equipping him with the tools he needs to spark a turnaround.
Currently United lie 7 points below Spurs are 4th and are level on points with Bournemouth and Watford who are 6th and 7th respectively.
The title challenge is out of the question at this time but the Red Devils still have a good chance of clawing their way back into the top four. And a finish in the Champions League qualifying spots, with a solid run in the FA Cup, wouldn’t be the worst ending to a season that begun in such ominous fashion.
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However, should United fail to break into the top four, then it might be time for the two parties to part ways.
