After what was a mundane Louis van Gaal era at Manchester United, Jose Mourinho’s arrival was supposed to usher a new dawn at Manchester United. While there has been no shortage of press conference punchlines and sly digs at fellow managers, United’s league position bears a similar depressing look like the last few seasons. Just outside the top four, the club have again struggled for the consistency that was last seen in the Sir Alex Ferguson days.
To their credit, Manchester United haven’t completely done a Liverpool. The season hasn’t been an utter failure yet as United are in the reckoning for a top four finish and could do a Cup double if they manage to win the Europa League.
The fans will, however, want a shy at the league title. After all, they have won it 20 times. Jose’s side have often flattered to deceive this season, but have the right ingredients to potentially challenge for the league next season. Here are five reasons why.
#1 Pragmatism
Granted, fifth in the league – after spending a record fee on Paul Pogba and dizzying wages on Zlatan Ibrahimovic – doesn’t seem like the best return. Manchester United have managed a paltry 51 goals in 34 games, which is lower than Everton and just one more than Bournemouth. But where they’ve succeeded is establishing a solid defence.
Mourinho isn’t the breed of managers who will sacrifice defensive compactness for champagne football. That’s not how he has managed to win two Champions League titles and numerous league titles in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain.
The Portuguese has managed to get the best out of Paul Pogba, contrary to popular belief. United’s transition play depends a lot on the Frenchman’s passing and athletic ability.
Stats are so often blown out of proportion, but hitting the post 27 times in one season certainly seems like an aberration. Pogba himself has been unlucky, having managed to hit the woodwork an incredible nine times. If you really think his price tag has something to do with that, then you have something against him.
#2 Cup runs and the winning mentality
Manchester United won the EFL Cup by beating Southampton earlier this year and also claimed the FA Community Shield at the start of the season. Mourinho’s side might not be having a consistent run in the league, but the Cup runs have shown that they have what it takes to win silverware.
When Mourinho lifted the league title with Chelsea in both the spells, it was preceded by solid cup runs which showcased what the team was good at. The same progressive situation can be seen at Manchester United.
Sadly for the team, too many injuries have hampered their progress in the league which is all about the consistency week in week out.
What is most important here is United’s young crop have now tasted success and could potentially do so again if they lift the Europa League trophy. The likes of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw are young and the cup runs will have instilled the champion’s mentality in them.
#3 The transfer market
Manchester United’s squad is pretty deep but there are still a few more additions that need to be made. The team have largely relied on Zlatan Ibrahimovic for goals and in his absence, no one has really stepped up.
Mourinho is never cagey in the transfer market. His sides have often flexed their financial muscle. We’ve already seen Manchester United have the resources to pretty much buy any player and that’s a scary prospect for the rest of the Premier League sides.
The club has 100 million pounds in each of the last three summer transfer windows and it’s likely they’ll do that again this June. Jose’s signings last summer transfer window have been pretty good in the ongoing season and if he can manage another successful transfer window, they could well clinch the league title.
#4 Similarity with the run Mourinho had with Chelsea in 2013-14
When Mourinho returned to Chelsea for a second spell, the Blues were in a bit of a turmoil. The next big thing in the managerial world at the time, Andre Villas-Boas, had a terrible spell and his replacement, Roberto Di Matteo, was given the boot despite guiding the club to their first ever Champions League title.
The club hierarchy then infuriated the fans more by going ahead and hiring Rafael Benitez - a supposed waiter in disguise - who provoked the Blues’ fans with his ‘plastic flags’ comment during his spell at Liverpool.
Mourinho inherited a decent enough team from Benitez, but they fell just short in his first season. Although they finished third in the league, they were competing against Liverpool and Manchester City, teams who scored more than 100 goals and simply obliterated their opponents.
Mourinho went about his usual pragmatic way, of course, and his side had the best defensive record that year having conceded just 27 goals in 38 league games. Despite having the trio of Demba Ba, Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto’o, they struggled for goals consistently over the season.
The following summer, they signed Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa. The duo had an instant understanding and pretty much won them the league. United this season are in a similar situation. They need that a couple of players who can take convert the chances.
#5 The unbeaten run in the league
Mourinho pretty much breeds success. Only twice has he failed to lift the league title – make that three keeping in mind the current season –and he has always lifted the title in his second year.
The only thing predictable in the unpredictable nature of the football is that Jose’s teams will not often be defensively fragile. His biggest task was to build a spine and he has done that successfully with Eric Bailly, Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba.
United’s last defeat in the league seems like an eternity ago. October was the last time they were humbled and had it not been for the profligacy of their attackers, they would have been closer to Chelsea than Liverpool at the moment.
When Jose was asked in the 2013-14 campaign if his Chelsea side were title contenders, he idiosyncratically claimed his side were ‘a little horse that needs milk and needs to learn how to jump.’ The following season, the same little horse breezed past the league. Don’t be surprised if you see a similar beast next season, this time, Mourinho jockeying Manchester United.
