The post-Ferguson era at Manchester United has been an odd one to say the least. David Moyes, groomed to be Ferguson incarnate, was sacked after ten months before he had any chance to redeem himself and mould his own United side. Louis Van Gaal was brought in to give United a “big name”, repair the damage of Moyes’ solitary season, replicate Ferguson’s success and show Ryan Giggs the ropes of management.
Two seasons into the Van Gaal era and yet again, United are in a position of change and assessing their options. Perhaps it is not entirely Van Gaal’s fault that his team is struggling given their injury record but alas, a man must be blamed and fired. Ryan Giggs is not yet ready to manage and now José Mourinho is being strongly linked to be the next manager at Old Trafford.
On paper it is a no-brainer; eight league titles across Europe, three European trophies and numerous individual honours,the man is one of the modern game’s most successful managers. Every club he manages seems to move up a gear and have an historic era. Mourinho wears success like a scarf but what follows is drama, misery and crisis and various reasons as to why United should avoid him.
José Mourinho is, in the short-term, always a successful coach, and his ability cannot be doubted. However, his achievements never seem to last beyond a third season or end on a high note. The last time he left a role with some pride and self respect was in 2010, when he left Inter for Real Madrid. Since then has faced player revolts, poked Tito Vilanova in the eye and sacked his own physio for doing her job. And to leave it at that would be to forget his self-promoting, ego-stroking and sometimes poisonous press conferences where he would call out players, officials or rival managers.
He is the master of his own downfall and never seems to regret or rethink his actions. When considering him for a managerial role, a club has to factor in his behaviour towards his squad, fellow coaches and his own bosses and wonder if he really is worth ruining United’s public image or squad morale for silverware. Sir Alex Ferguson himself often had his heated moments but they never damaged his club’s reputation or affected the dressing room.
The Red Devils require a manager for the long term and Mourinho is not that man. Given his history of instant triumphs, he would mostly be very successful at United, but his long-term vision has to be questioned, particularly when it comes youth player inclusion.
Rather than promote youth players into the first team squad at his own accord, he either is forced by others to play younger players or uses them to aggravate senior players; the obvious examples being Raphel Varane and Pepe or Antonio Adan and Iker Casillas during his Real Madrid days. More recently, he discarded two of Europe’s best youth products in Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku even before they had a chance to shine at Chelsea.
Manchester United’s youth players look promising, but the youth set-up is in need of reform and the club need a manager to lead that change and integrate rising youth stars with a buoyant and energetic first team squad, similar to Mauricio Pochettino’s approach at Spurs. Three years under Mourinho would yield success put it would put the young players’ futures at risk.
The reasons as to why the club would make eyes with him across the bar are obvious His record at club level ranks him as a modern great with his successful tactics and decisions in important games even when his sides are struggling to find form. Their 2-0 win over Arsenal earlier this season is an obvious example.
He is able to transform losers into champions with ease. Within two seasons at Chelsea he removed the deadwood in the squad, replacing the likes of Fernando Torres, Juan Mata and Demba Ba with Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matić and the team went from an underachieving Premier League side to dominant champions. United are desperate to regain the league title and appointing Mourinho would be an ideal response to Manchester City hiring Pep Guardiola in the short-term.
Regardless, what Manchester United require is someone who will fix the club’s problems, renovate an underwhelming squad and bring success back to United. The baggage Mourinho brings to any role is too much of a risk. He would be a sensible choice for instant success but the club cannot risk being in turmoil in a few years’ time. Is he realistically able to guide the club out of crisis? History does not suggest so. Louis Van Gaal has bought himself some time at Old Trafford, and this time must be used by the board to consider their options rationally.
