In recent weeks, Jose Mourinho has been the cynosure of the footballing world. Two successive defeats have compounded the pre-existing pressure that has been quietly amalgamating for some time. This week, the Manchester United boss has lashed out at those who seek to tarnish his reputation and has demanded more respect for his achievements in the game.
The Jose Mourinho Complex
What’s Going Wrong?
Mourinho is undeniably an enigmatic figure. These days he cannot escape the spotlight and arguably he relishes the media attention he receives. Aside from United’s struggles on the pitch, there are plenty of off-pitch controversies that regularly dominate the headlines. In his attempts to preserve his reputation during media appearances, he inadvertently manages to ignite additional drama. This week, incidentally, has been no exception.
In a heated press conference following his side’s 3-0 defeat to Spurs, Mourinho was quick to focus on his personal achievements. This response can be viewed as a red herring: a distraction from the pressing issues at Old Trafford and an egotistic defence of his fractured pride. Others regard it as him harking back to a glorious age that he has failed to replicate during his time at Manchester United. This is something that Jose Mourinho is well too aware of – and it shows.
This is what Manchester United fans find so frustrating. Mourinho is undeniably a highly capable manager, as he has proven during his time in management. Currently, however, he is failing to maximise the potential of his team and resurrect the golden years. What doesn’t help is his negative energy, his tendency to publicly criticise his players and his refusal to take ownership of his faults. This only propagates a pessimistic mood surrounding the club that leaves little in the way of hope.
‘The Truth is in the Whole’
Days on from the calamitous defeat to Tottenham Hotspur the United manager remains intent on talking about himself. Talking to the press on Friday Mourinho quoted German philosopher Georg Hegel to defend his managerial attributes. “The truth is in the whole”, he stated, which was ultimately another smokescreen. This was deployed by Mourinho to divert attention away from the current problems he faces and, instead, onto his former glories.
Whilst on the subject of quoting Hegel, the 55-year-old failed to cite another of his famous sayings: “Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion”. This is something that he could certainly learn from. Despite openly criticising Pep Guardiola’s decision to produce a TV documentary about Manchester City’s title-winning season, if he were to give it a watch he might learn from the unwavering passion displayed by the Spaniard.
That said, it has become too readily forgotten that Jose Mourinho has won Premier League titles before and needs no lessons in how to succeed. What he needs to do, though, is rediscover his mojo and dissipate the air of pessimism that currently pollutes Old Trafford. In his defence the media do appear hell-bent on decorating him as the pantomime villain; although he doesn’t help himself a lot of the time, Mourinho is still a world-class manager.
Looking Forward
After a difficult start to the season, a consensus among fans is now forming. Despite being aware of Mourinho’s shortcomings they recognise his quality and are prepared to allow him some time. A telling moment was the warm applause he received from fans even after being humiliated against Spurs. Although it may not seem so currently, United fans will hope that there is a method in his madness.
Restoring Manchester United’s status as world-beaters was always going to be a challenging task. This season, however, looks to be a defining one for Jose Mourinho as patience begins to wear thin. Many commentators have dismissed his side and tipped their arch-rivals Manchester City to achieve back-to-back Premier League titles. To add insult to injury, United have been drawn up against Juventus and Valencia in the Champions League group stages.
It is now time for Mourinho to prove himself, starting with Burnley on Sunday. If he is “one of the greatest managers in the world”, then he must start living up to that title. Although truth regarding Mourinho’s quality is found ‘in the whole’, Manchester United fans are begging for it to be restored in the present, when it matters. Otherwise, their side could sleepwalk further into an era defined by abject failure and underachievement.
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