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So it’s now confirmed. Manchester united will finish 2017-18 Premier league season as runners-up. It gives prominence to Jose Mourinho’s earlier claim that they are the “best of the rest”. But the drab 0-0 affair at West Ham on Thursday typified all that was wrong with Manchester United’s campaign this season and perhaps gave a pointer as to why there are serious apprehensions over their progress under Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho made as many as eight changes to the side that started at the Amex last week. This was as per expected lines as the Portuguese had blasted at critics of his treatment to Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford after the 1-0 loss to Brighton. “Why always Lukaku, why always Lukaku, why always Lukaku? You have the answer,” he quipped. So it was clear that the decision to start with a striker-less line up was an indictment of under-par performances of Martial and Rashford. Yes, the duo fared pretty badly the last time around but there was little rationale in leaving them both out especially when your main striker, Lukaku is injured.
Jose’s abrasive nature to criticize the players repeatedly in press conferences, apparently to get the best out of them, hasn’t helped his cause. Neither have the rants about United’s recent failures after their Champions league exit to Sevilla.
Manchester United is synonymous with stylish and attacking football. But the red devils have been anything but stylish and attacking since Sir Alex left the club. To put this into perspective, no side have played out more goalless draws (19) than United since 2012-13 season.
They have beaten every other club in the premier league this season but the losses against all three promoted clubs (Huddersfield, Newcastle and Brighton) and results like Thursday’s at London Stadium have in many ways summed up Mourinho’s United than their wins.
De gea recorded his 18th clean sheet of the season against West Ham which according to Mourinho, is reflective of Manchester United. Yes, he is right. It means they defended well as a unit and hence it is a team achievement. But clean sheets alone don’t get you titles. Goals do. And who knows it better than Mourinho whose side Real Madrid scored a staggering 121 goals in 2011-12 season.
This second-place finish is United’s best Premier League result in post-ferguson era which underlines progress without doubt. But hey tell that to their fans.
The bottom-line is while Manchester United has made significant progress compared to the last season; it must translate into a league title in 2018-19.
