Manchester United: Cracks are appearing wherever you look, be it in the side, or Jose Mourinho’s behaviour on and off the field
Portuguese manager needs to make some big decisions and fast, including how to get the best out of Paul Pogba and Co
LET’S hope Jose Mourinho has his own Alan Partidge-esque “big plate” when he visits the dining room at the Lowry Hotel.
The beleaguered Manchester United boss certainly needs one, given the food for thought in front of him right now.
Every week another issue, another problem . . . another game without a win.
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And every week a little more chipped away from an Old Trafford honeymoon period which, while not exactly careering towards the divorce courts, is certainly proving to be anything but a marriage made in Heaven.
Since victory in his first three league games, Mourinho’s United have won just five of 12 matches.
Three of those were against Northampton, a Leicester side then stumbling along, and unknown Ukrainians Zorya.
Throw in the fact they hardly blew the roof off in the League Cup win over City’s reserves and the one truly impressive display since came in whacking Fenerbahce.
They face the Turks again tonight, before a banana skin trip to Swansea and Old Trafford visits of Arsenal, West Ham twice and Feyenoord.
Already they are seven points off fourth place – the minimum requirement. Already they are worse off than a similar stage under David Moyes.
Already the cracks are appearing wherever you look, be it in the side, or the manager’s behaviour on and off the field.
Mourinho always has and always will be an enigma. One minute slamming refs, facing bans and fines and bemoaning his “disastrous” Manchester hotel life away from the family.
On the other, capable of fantastic gestures such as spontaneously auctioning his watch at a United for Unicef dinner and boosting the pot by over £30,000.
He is – believe it or not – capable of great humility too. Like apologising profusely for the woeful rollover at Chelsea.
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But United bosses aren’t supposed to be apologising. They’re supposed to be getting under the skin or others. Supposed to be revelling in the fact they are once again the nation’s most hated, by opponents who can only look in envy.
Right now the green glances are coming from Old Trafford, not towards it. And there seems no end to it either. Certainly not one that can be solved with a Euro win over Turkish no-marks.
Never mind not knowing his best team, Mourinho doesn’t seem to even know their best positions.
Marcus Rashford – central or wide? Paul Pogba – deep lying or pushing forward? Daley Blind – left-back or in the middle?
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – why isn’t he given the break he needs? Wayne Rooney – why isn’t he getting the starts or respect he deserves?
And Henrikh Mkhitaryan – well has anyone seen him at all recently?
Ironically that last one could in fact ultimately prove to be the answer, because there is no doubt the Armenian can be a footballing wizard.
We saw enough of that at Borussia Dortmund to know he is a genuine top class talent. One that can – should – prove a real diamond in time.
Mkhitaryan’s one start so far saw him subbed in the derby loss to City, since then he has battled a thigh problem.
Six weeks ago he was tweeting about being back in full training, but the wait goes on.
With each week, the pressure will heighten on him delivering when he does return – quite simply, United and Mourinho are running out of places to turn.
The manager hasn’t yet reached crisis point, but the goodwill will only stretch so far. He’s already had more than was extended to Moyes, who had the toughest job of all when he arrived.
Big decisions need making, and fast. Like Ibrahimovic being rested, not just for one game either.
Like Rooney getting a recall. Like Michael Carrick bringing a regular steadying hand. Like Pogba having a freer reign to pull attacking strings rather than plug defensive gaps.
Like the manager proving what United is all about.
This is a club which prides itself on standards, style and success. This is a club which is currently falling well short on all three.