Manchester United manager’s often defensive tactics and desire for total control of his players could stem from a sense of being an outsiderIt is a sad indication of the recent state of Liverpool that over the past couple of weeks they have seemed more significant as a test case for others than in and of themselves. José Mourinho took his Manchester United side to Anfield and, as he waited and waited and waited for the game “to break”, the watching world waited and waited and waited for something vaguely resembling action to break out. It didn’t and the game finished 0-0. Given Liverpool’s vulnerabilities and given Manchester City’s remarkable form, that felt even at the time like two points needlessly...
Manchester United are flying through the early stages of the season so why is their manager doing and saying things that he does not seem to need to?A creditable goalless draw at Liverpool, a solid away win in the Champions League at Benfica, an is-he-or-isn’t-he flirtation with Paris Saint-Germain, a refusal to commit his long-term future to Manchester United and, finally, a hand grenade lobbed towards those managers who “cry about injuries” unlike him. Related: Chelsea’s Antonio Conte hits back at Mourinho barb after draw with Roma Continue reading...
United are making a habit of winning 4-0 – the perfect José Mourinho scoreline – and his second-season changes have given his side an authoritative airNobody is such a master of the humdrum four-goal win as José Mourinho. When his sides start winning 4-0 and 4-1 and others start rolling their eyes, it is a sure sign that things are going well. In claiming the league title in 2004-05, his Chelsea side scored four goals in a game seven times. The victory against Everton on Sunday was the third time already this season that Manchester United have won a league game 4-0.It is the perfect Mourinho score, a brusque assertion of superiority rather than an artefact or a drama to...
United and City expect far better for Manchester than last season while Premier League champions Chelsea hoped Morata’s goals could retain their crownAfter Antonio Conte led Chelsea to their fifth Premier League crown in his first campaign, Pep Guardiola and José Mourinho embark on a defining 2017-18 season. Defining because the pair were granted a free pass last term. However, Conte’s feat casts a harsh light on how poorly Guardiola and Mourinho performed. Guardiola guided City to an unconvincing third and Mourinho took United to a lowly sixth. As the positions suggest, neither manager was able to mount a serious tilt at the title and thus their respective employers have to find excuses for them and succour from elsewhere. Related:...
Mourinho is apparently a happy manager and can be delighted with Lukaku’s start but expect frustration if at least one more signing is not made swiftlyTottenham Hotspur are “big favourites” for the Premier League while Manchester United have only a fighting chance and are inferior to Real Madrid and Barcelona. Related: José Mourinho: Manchester United are not at Real Madrid or Barcelona’s level Continue reading...