The Portuguese’s obsession with his own importance is wearing but what qualifies Ed Woodward to consider that his judgment of a player’s ability outweighs that of the manager?What do you imagine Ed Woodward will be thinking, from his seat in the Bob Lord stand, when a plane flies over Turf Moor this afternoon and the message trailed in the skies makes it clear there are Manchester United supporters who prefer to hold him responsible for the club’s current predicament rather than subjecting José Mourinho to any real form of mutiny?It will need the thickest of skins, presumably, when the plane’s banner will read “Ed Woodward – specialist in failure” on the same weekend, 10 years since Abu Dhabi’s royal family...
Given how fearful the Manchester United manager was of this season opener, maybe he can afford to start smilingIn the way only football can, this contest started in breath-taking Boys’ Own fashion. Paul Pogba has had his issues with José Mourinho yet just 75 seconds into a season advertised as a struggle by Manchester United’s manager his prize midfielder rifled home a priceless lead. Related: Paul Pogba penalty gives Manchester United dream start against Leicester Related: Manchester United v Leicester City: Premier League – as it happened Continue reading...
Manchester United’s grumpy manager should take a leaf out of Gareth Southgate’s England book and stop clinging to an old-fashioned, confrontational management styleIt is strange to think everyone in England was stocking up on waistcoats this time last month. Now the news is all about tinned goods flying off the shelves, which is probably because we don’t have the World Cup to distract us from reality any more.As a sign of how much patriotic fervour had taken hold of the country, there was no better guide than people deciding to dress as Gareth Southgate, fashion icon. Nothing in life made more sense than buying a Southgate waistcoat before the semi-final against Croatia and it was because of one man finding...
Manager’s soap diva histrionics perfect for a fly-on-the-wall production guaranteed to take ratings through the roofIn 2007, coinciding with the moment David Beckham made his debut for LA Galaxy, I was at their Home Depot Center ground in Los Angeles to watch José Mourinho’s Chelsea compete in something called the World Series of Soccer. Don’t look for this competition – they don’t play it any more. As part of their US summer tour, Chelsea beat LA Galaxy in the last match, though the competition was won on goal difference by – hang on, let me get my reading glasses on – Tigres UANL. Suwon Samsung Bluewings finished fourth.Before the Galaxy game, Mourinho was asked by an American journalist how much the World Series of Soccer trophy would...
Isolated outing for forward in the cup final was dismaying proof that skilful attackers are being left to regress at Old TraffordOn a sweaty, heavy, oddly gruelling Wembley day Manchester United’s sweaty, heavy, oddly gruelling season was finally euthanised to a close.It has been a good season in some ways, with obvious progress made in the Premier League. But it passed here without the garnish of a trophy as Eden Hazard’s first-half penalty settled a largely forgettable FA Cup final in Chelsea’s favour. Related: Chelsea’s Eden Hazard spot-on to sink Manchester United and win FA Cup Related: Antonio Conte: ‘I showed in a difficult season that I’m a serial winner’ Continue reading...