Frustration mounts for the Special One as rivals start to pull clear
Premier League – 4th December 2016: Everton 1, Manchester United 1.
“Better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual” – a dictionary definition of the word special . What is different from usual right now, is the current position of Manchester United among English Football’s elite, with José Mourinho very much the central figure.
Early days of course, you might say, but will United be happy with sixth place in the Premier League right now? Mourinho has been visibly unhappy on several occasions this season, with two red cards of his own, having been sent to the stands twice already.
So is it really more Bleak House than Theatre of Dreams for Mourinho and United right now? They are certainly struggling to match the quality of football – let alone the results – of Chelsea, Liverpool or Arsenal right now. Their noisy neighbours are still noisy and also sit above them in the League.
At the very start of the season, things looked good – three straight wins – although critics might say that was only to be expected from games against Bournemouth, Southampton and Hull City.
Subsequent League form has been patchy – losses to Watford, Man City and Chelsea, and draws with Stoke, Liverpool, Burnley, Arsenal and West Ham – with yet another draw yesterday at Everton, despite leading until the 89th minute.
That’s a poor showing against the sides of Conte, Klopp, Wenger and Guardiola, and precisely why they are all above United in the League. Since the tail-end of September, United have only beaten Leicester and Swansea. United currently have fewer points after fourteen games than they’d accumulated under both David Moyes and Louis van Gaal in each of the previous three seasons – and those managers were ultimately seen as failures.
In the Europa League, Mourinho has overseen a mixed bag of performances, although United should still reach the knockout stages – but as a former winner on two occasions, it must pain Mourinho to be missing from the Champions League right now. Progress has been good in the EFL cup, with the semi-finals reached with little discomfort, including a win over Manchester City along the way.
Mourinho certainly landed another plum job when United came calling, despite reported reservations from some very influential Old Trafford figures. The United hierarchy undoubtedly appointed a winner, despite Mourinho’s traditional length of service being short-to-medium rather than long-term. But with Jose comes baggage. Passion and the will to win sometimes spill over. His objectivity can fly out of the window quicker than one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s old tea-cups.
Currently living in a Manchester hotel and away from his family, Mourinho recently referred to parts of his life as a “bit of a disaster”. Events on the pitch can’t be helping his overall state of mind and contentment either. Domestic arrangements aside, Mourinho has spoken of major overhauls needed within the Club.
These reportedly include pre-season tour planning, travel, fitness, sports science and the medical set-up. Plus, he was allegedly seriously underwhelmed with the squad he inherited. With United’s wealth and what Mourinho is paid, few would be dabbing their eyes in sympathy for him and the Club. But not that long ago, it was being run by the formidable combination of David Gill and Sir Alex Ferguson – a Chief Executive and Manager partnership that worked incredibly well during a trophy-laden period in United’s history.
Since then, Ed Woodward has stepped up as Chief Executive, and the great Ferguson retired. Moyes and van Gaal have been and gone from the dugout in quick succession, and despite LVG delivering an FA Cup, the last three seasons – by the standards of Manchester United – have been less prawn sandwich, more spam fritter.
Yesterday at Goodison Park, United took the lead in the first half, courtesy of some nice improvisation in a clever long-range lob from Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Everton’s keeper Maarten Stekelenburg actually created the opportunity for Ibrahimovic, with a mad dash from his goal which made little sense. In trying to secure the win, Mourinho sent on Marouane Fellaini for Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the 85th minute, only to see the Belgian concede a daft penalty almost immediately. Leighton Baines buried it, and United’s three points swiftly became one.
Herein lies a definite weakness with Mourinho’s United. They have dropped a total of seven points thanks to goals conceded in the final ten minutes of Premier League games, worse than any other team in this respect. Ferguson’s United never had that problem, they tended to do the opposite, often salvaging points late in games or deep into injury time. With that special wristwatch of Fergie’s, anything seemed possible.
Post-match, Mourinho was typically tetchy. You can see his frustration all too clearly. Perhaps most disappointing of all, was his reaction when questioned on Marcos Rojo’s dreadful tackle on Idrissa Gueye – he twice answered, “I didn’t see it”. Very convenient. How refreshing and appropriate it would have been to hear Mourinho acknowledge a horrendous, reckless “challenge” that could have ended a career. Two-footed, off the ground, launched like a missile. The outcome of these things is in the lap of the gods and thankfully – amazingly – Gueye survived it with no damage.
Referee and Linesman between them somehow came up with the punishment of a yellow card, which was completely wrong. You will not see a more deserving red card all season. Rojo – and United – dodged one here. When Mourinho bemoans his lot, he would do well to remember that not all decisions go against him – this one didn’t and he’d also do well to remind Rojo of his responsibilities on the pitch, and to show more respect for his fellow professionals. One can only imagine Mourinho’s reaction had this challenge been on one of his players. As a last word on this nasty incident, full credit to Gueye, he was up quickly and did not milk it, another thing Rojo should be thankful for.
Since he first arrived in English football in 2004, enjoying instant success with Chelsea, Mourinho knows that competition at the top is much, much stronger, 2016 style. There is plenty of time for improvement and success to come, but if the infrastructure he has complained about is definitely in need of the overhaul he claims, United will have to support this. Should he get the improvements he demands – and one assumes there will be more money available in the January transfer window and beyond – there will be few excuses left for Mourinho, if his team do not achieve better consistency and improve results. Financially, United remain a behemoth. Currently third, United are predicted to top the world’s richest football clubs list, when Deloitte’s publish their next one early in 2017.
Chelsea and Liverpool are resurgent. Arsenal continue to play outstanding football and surely must be back in major contention for a league title. Whilst Guardiola is still finding his feet in the Premier League with Manchester City, like United, their resources are immense and their owners expect success. If Spurs could regularly deliver the sum of their parts, you would probably add them to this group also. As things stand, United are thirteen points behind leaders Chelsea, and eleven behind second placed Arsenal – that’s quite a gap for early December.
Not that José would ever consider himself wounded, they say a wounded animal is often the most dangerous. Perhaps it’s more a case of perceived injustices, misfortune and being misunderstood that is Mourinho’s motivation. He is also that priceless commodity that all Clubs crave – a winner. High maintenance – yes, but a high achiever too. United know they have to accept the whole package in order to get what they hope he will deliver. It won’t always look – or sound – pretty, and although you wouldn’t bet against Mourinho coming good with United eventually, he’ll need to be more special than ever this season – 2004 is long gone and 2016 is a different ball game.
By Chris Tribe
4th December 2016
Next game: Zorya Luhansk (A) – Europa League– Thursday 8th December, 6.00pm
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