Manchester United: 3 reasons why the pressure is on Jose Mourinho this season

Jose Mourinho will always have his critics. He is in charge of Manchester United after all, but he is now in his third season at the job.

Mourinho has got two trophies and United also finished runners-up last season to an amazing City team. But the expectations United fans have will always put the Portuguese under pressure: one bad result and they're on his back.

Mourinho has felt this pressure at other clubs he has managed so it's nothing new for him. But the added expectation was that when he arrived United would dominate English football again, and it hasn't gone that way; Mourinho is yet to win a Premier League title with Manchester United.

Here, I examine three reasons why it is make or break for Mourinho this season.

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#1 Pep Guardiola and Manchester City

City smashed the Premier League last season reaching a 100 points

With the kind of football Manchester City are playing there is always going to be pressure on other teams to replicate that - especially for a club like United whose ethos is to play attacking football.

With City's football absolutely destroying teams and dominating the Premier League, United fans must be extremely jealous. It used to be United destroying teams left, right and center not too long ago.

Everything that's happening at the Etihad is making Mourinho's situation worse than it actually is and should be. Some people feel Mourinho must change his ways or we will see City and Guardiola keep getting better and better.

There's also Liverpool, whose football is much more entertaining than United's, but Mourinho could argue his football is efficient. United finished 2nd last season, whereas Liverpool are yet to win a trophy under Jurgen Klopp.

But that certain swagger United used to play with doesn't exist anymore; it's difficult to associate them now with the Ferguson reign of blowing teams away. These days they are just about scraping 1-0 wins against teams like Watford which, let's be honest, isn't good enough with the quality they have. They should really be smashing 4 or 5 past teams like those.

In addition, United's recruitment compared to their rivals has been poor. City have spent more but have spent good money on areas that required change; for instance, they have signed Riyad Mahrez for £60 million. Liverpool have spent money on Naby Keita and Fabinho whereas United have invested in Fred and Dalot.

This is not really Mourinho's fault, but he's got to place more pressure on the board to get the signings done, with the transfer window closing in under a month.

#2 The brand of football

Is Mourinho's Football boring?

You've heard it a million times, but this is what United fans hate the most about Mourinho - the brand of football his teams produce. That kind of football is acceptable at a club like Chelsea, as they are all about winning without being too bothered about the way they win.

But for a club like United, winning is not enough - at least not for the fans. The team must win in a certain style as the fans expect the team to be trend-setters.

For a manager who has spent the best part of £300 million playing that kind of football at a club like Manchester United is less than desirable. What frustrates a lot of people is that Mourinho doesn't trust his players in offense.

In the Manchester Derby, United attacked in the second half and scored 3 goals. At the Emirates the Red Devils attacked for 15 minutes and scored 2 goals. Against Liverpool United attacked for a short while and scored twice.

So you can see why United fans get annoyed. The team has the talent and ability to play offensive football, but the manager does not allow it.

#3 Attitude

Does Mourinho have a poor attitude?

Mourinho's attitude has always been a topic of discussion wherever he has gone. You will often hear him moaning over the smallest of things. His attitude towards players is also a bit suspect as he openly criticizes them and their ability; just look at the situation with Luke Shaw.

Mourinho also uses his press conferences and interviews to take shots at people. When United got knocked out in Champions League this season, he was right in saying this was something they were used to on a European stage. But he said that at the worst time possible, when all United fans were angry and upset enough.

What next for Mourinho?

With the Premier league due to start in less than a month, United will have the expectation, like they've always had, of mounting a title challenge. With this being Mourinho's third season in charge he's got to produce results, or around this time next year we could see United looking for a new manager.

For his own sake, Mourinho has to change a few things; that could buy him more time with the United faithful.