Manchester United have enjoyed relative success since Jose Mourinho was appointed manager in 2016, with League Cup and Europa League success the highlights of the Portuguese’s eighteen-month reign at Old Trafford.
Fans here at The Transfer Tavern defend their boss to the death, but admit that the former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss does indeed have his flaws. Regular visitors at The Tavern, United fans will always be welcome within our walls, with the Red Devils faithful becoming a fixture around the dart board in recent years. Our landlord enjoys catching up with the lively bunch, who love nothing more than talking about their beloved club.
The future of their manager was on the agenda this week, with The Daily Mail reporting that Mourinho could resign at the end of the season after appearing to distance himself from others at the club, and this has led fans to wonder what life will be like without the Portuguese boss at the helm. Our landlord helped allay fears amongst his punters, and gave three reasons as to why United would be better off without the controversial figure heading up their club…
More positive play
Mourinho’s sides have been criticised in the pass for a defensive, negative approach to matches, especially when his side are locked in battle with perceived title contenders. United have been no exception to this criticism, with the club constantly accused of adopting ‘park the bus’ tactics when facing their strongest rivals.
United sides of old played without fear, and if an opponent bagged three goals against them, the Old Trafford outfit would simply go out and score four. Under Ferguson, United were one of the most exciting teams in world football, a tag that has deserted them since the long-serving Scotsman’s retirement. With Mourinho gone, perhaps the Old Trafford hierarchy will bring in a more attack-minded manager to draw the best from the club’s array of talented attacking stars.
Less controversy
United pride themselves as a respectable club who wish to maintain the utmost respect, and a figure such as Mourinho certainly detracts from this image. Currently involved in a public spat with club legend Paul Scholes, Sir Bobby Charlton supposedly expressed his concerns over hiring Mourinho due to his outspoken nature, and it appears that United’s greatest ever player was right in his assessment of the manager.
The modern games involved tit-for-tat tactics in the media between managers, and psychological warfare could arguably have been pioneered by Ferguson during his tenure at the club. However Mourinho isn’t arguing with Arsene Wenger, as Ferguson often did, he is trading insults in the Press with who many United fans perceive to be, the greatest central midfielder in this history of the Premier League. These issues would disappear should Mourinho depart.
Fresh new outlook
Mourinho has only been at the club for eighteen months, but has received criticism for his approach on the field. If the manager were to depart in the summer, then United could source a manager to install a fresh new approach at the club, someone who will take the club in a new direction.
United have at times appeared to stagnate under Mourinho, and failing to finish in the top-four last season was a huge blow to those at the club. The club qualified for the Champions League by winning the Europa League, but many will consider this a failure, considering the stature of United and the amount of money Mourinho has spent at the helm. Plenty of quality young manager’s are proving themselves across Europe, and would jump at the opportunity to manage at Old Trafford. Fans may be nervous a second Moyes-like era should Mourinho leave, but if those in charge at the club can find the right successor, a new era of greatness could be on the horizon.
United fans, would Mourinho leaving be a bad thing in your opinion? Let us know!
