There is tension in the air at Manchester United. Jose Mourinho has cut a frustrated figure throughout pre-season, reeling off a long list of complaints about everything from fixture scheduling to transfers during their tour of the United States. “Everything is really bad,” he said in one of his prickly media appearances.
Mourinho’s mood has dampened any sense of optimism about the new season, and it has also thrown up troubling comparisons with his previous jobs. Is Mourinho suffering from another case of third-season syndrome? Is his Manchester United tenure heading towards a rocky end?
A strong start to the season would put paid to those concerns, and Mourinho’s mood might be improved if he is able to bring in more new faces before the transfer deadline, but at the moment the outlook is far from rosy and supporters are entitled to be worried. Here, we look at three of the key challenges facing Mourinho as the big kick-off draws closer.
Focus on what matters
Mourinho’s outspoken approach to press appearances is nothing new, but the negativity is becoming stifling at United and there is a sense that he is picking battles needlessly. His criticism of Anthony Martial, who left their pre-season tour to attend the birth of his second child, felt too strong.
One of Mourinho’s biggest gripes is that he feels he is not getting the backing he wants in the transfer market, but United have already spent vast sums under his watch. Would he be better served trying to get the best out of what he has already got? His priority should be to steady the ship and focus on improving the team. That’s his best hope of closing the gap on City.
Sort out the defence
Manchester United only conceded 28 Premier League goals last season but it would have been a lot worse if it wasn’t for David De Gea. The Spaniard performed wonders for United, making brilliant saves on a regular basis and, according to Opta’s Expected Goals metric, preventing more goals than any other Premier League goalkeeper.
United can’t rely on De Gea to bail them out indefinitely, however, so it’s up to Mourinho to give him more protection. He is hoping to bring in at least one new centre-back, with Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld and Barcelona’s Yerry Mina on his shortlist, but he has already spent a combined total of more than £60m on Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof. Can he coax improvement from them?
Unleash Pogba
Paul Pogba showed flashes of what he is capable of last season, scoring six goals and providing 10 assists in 27 Premier League appearances, but after two years back at Old Trafford it still feels as though United are waiting to see the very best of him. His strained relationship with Mourinho has not helped, but his performances for France at the World Cup showed what he can do if the circumstances are right.
It’s down to Mourinho to create those same circumstances at United. Pogba has struggled to meet Mourinho’s demands at times in the last two seasons, but he should be helped by the arrival of Fred, who could provide a platform for him to attack with greater freedom.
While Pogba and Mourinho haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, United legend Ferdinand still thinks there is time for them to patch up their relationship. But Ferdinand thinks the onus is on Pogba to prove his worth.
“He was brilliant in Russia, he was effective and did the job he had to do for the team,” Ferdinand said.“It’s down to the manager to get the best out of him, setting the team up and setting Pogba up in the right way to achieve the best.
“But Pogba needs to play his part in that.
“He has seen what works for him to win matches and win trophies and he has to bring that to United.
“It’s a case of the player and manager getting an understanding for each other and getting the best out of the player.”