Manchester United: The Mourinho Years

With many to most media outlets persistently stirring the pot of conjecture on this story it’s difficult to imagine that Jose Mourinho isn’t at least being considered for the job as Manchester United manager next season.

However Ed Woodward and the board try to avert their eyes, the plain facts are that Manchester United are spending more money on players than ever before but achieving less, season on season, than they have since the EPL began.

The BBC said recently:

Manchester United have held talks with representatives of ex-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, the BBC understands.

The 53-year-old Portuguese, who was sacked by the Blues in December, is increasingly hopeful of succeeding Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford.

And this week the man himself has been questioned about the job. The Daily Mail reports:

Jose Mourinho coy over Manchester United job as former Chelsea boss says: ‘There is plenty of time’

And The Guardian this week wrote:

José Mourinho: ‘I’ll be back in management by 30 June’

• Former Chelsea manager linked with Manchester United job

• ‘In July I will be back. So we are in May. May to July is nothing’

Manchester United are desperate for a new rudder – a strong personality and natural leader who knows how to win silverware with the sort of frequency to which United fans have become accustomed – that Jose Mourinho is available should be viewed as the ultimate gift horse, yet the indecisive Ed Woodward still isn’t falling over himself to do the deal. Any other appointment would come with huge risk of further failure. But Mourinho almost guarantees success.

So how would the Mourinho years look at Old Trafford?

Defence

A meticulous defensive mastermind, Jose will be desperate to hold on to David de Gea and to sign another top centre back to play alongside Chris Smalling. The name of Raphael Varane has been mentioned and TFF thinks that United would struggle to sign a better player for that position. Luke Shaw will undoubtedly play on the left and Jose will have to decide whether he has enough quality on the right with Valencia, Fosu-Mensah, Darmian and Phil Jones – who we think could prove to be a top right back in the same mould as Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.

Midfield

Manchester United need a new leader in the middle. We can’t see Fellaini sticking around and Herrera and Schneiderlin still have much to prove.

Michael Carrick has been a massive part of United’s success but will be 35 come the new season. Mourinho will surely look for a midfield general to run this team in the new era. Paul Pogba would be an obvious choice now that the brilliant Renato Sanches has gone to Bayern Munich. But perhaps a more defensive midfielder could be on the cards first.

Attack

We have a sneaking suspicion that Mourinho will view Martial and Memphis as his superstars in waiting. If Jose can get Memphis to track back a bit more, in the 4-2-3-1 that The Portuguese has always preferred, then a new right winger may not be needed. With consistency, Memphis can be a superb right winger for United.

But the signing of a top forward – someone who can play in various roles across the front line – will surely be a top priority given Manchester United’s profligacy in front of goal this term. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang looks like a super player who ticks all the boxes.

Manchester United need Mourinho more than Mourinho needs United. If they do get him they can expect more sustained success in England and Europe. If they don’t make the right decision at this crucial juncture then United fans might have to get used to the confusion nature of the current era.