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The Sevilla shocker
As soon as Wissam Ben Yedder headed in the top-right corner for Sevilla's second goal and the final nail in the coffin for Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League there was a sense of disbelief.
Just two days after the massive victory over arch-rivals Liverpool, United were on the verge of crashing out of the Champions League at the round of 16 stage to a team which had been conceding for fun this season.
Even though Romelu Lukaku pulled one back for the Red Devils but it was the Spanish club which celebrated at full time. Afterall it was one of the biggest shocks of this season as a squad worth millions were knocked out by a team which had not qualified for the quarters in 60 years.
Questions were raised at the manager, Jose Mourinho for the team selection first and then for the defensive approach against a defensively weak team and that too at home. Leaving creative players like Juan Mata and Paul Pogba out of the starting lineup for what was arguably United's biggest match of the season so far baffled a lot of fans and pundits.
As it turned out, the manager's defensive approach did not pay off and Sevilla scored late on leaving United with almost no time to claw themselves back into the tie. Fans and ex-players were outraged by the result and the manager's approach and did not hide their disappointment.
Even after spending around big, Jose Mourinho approached such a big game with a negative outlook. United during their successful years under Sir Alex Ferguson were known to play attacking football from the get-go; this made them popular as well as a joy to watch for both for supporters and neutrals.
Overtly defensive approach
Not to forget they won almost everything there was to win playing such football and they did it consistently over a span of around 20-25 years. Surely at a club like Manchester United trophies are the most important part for any manager.
But it cannot be denied that the fans who turn up at Old Trafford and the millions around the world expect their team to play a certain brand of football, a brand of football which is based around scoring goals and scoring lots of them.
What builds up the pressure on Mourinho even more is the way the Red Devils' noisy neighbours are playing the game right now. Manchester City are on their way to lift the Premier League this season and they are going to achieve it playing some absolutely breathtaking and beautiful football.
Not to forget they are in the quarter-finals of the Champions league too. They have spent big too just like United but the difference in performances is striking.
A lot of United faithful are already raising their voices against the lack of attacking potency their team is displaying. A lot of Pundits believe that even United's defence is not as good as the stats show and rather give a false impression.
The blushes in the defence have often been saved by their goalkeeper, David de Gea who has been absolutely exceptional and has easily been United's best player for at least two seasons now.
Mourinho was always known to win the title in his second year but with that record too now only a matter of days away from being broken as the pressure on the Portuguese is building up. He has been criticised recently for not playing United's most expensive player Paul Pogba in his preferred position because of which the midfielder's form has dipped too.
The way forward
The frustration around Old Trafford is growing and although there are not many doubts regarding Mourinho's future, there's a mutual understanding that the next season can be the most important for him till now.
A Champions League qualification for next year is all but confirmed. However, United's fans and owners will not be satisfied with anything other than the Premier League next time around.
It goes without saying that he will be given enough funds to spend and strengthen the squad but Mourinho knows that spending comes with added pressure to deliver,
If he fails to deliver then maybe the Old Trafford outfit will look elsewhere for a man who can lead the club and maybe we will see the last of the Special One in the English game as well.
Whatever the outcome may be, we cannot deny that Mourinho took the Premier League by storm when he came in at first with the personality he possesses and the game he got Chelsea playing. But if he does not regain some of those traits back sooner rather than later, then maybe we won't see Mourinho in the league week in and week out.
