Manchester United – What’s been going wrong?

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: Jose Mourinho the head coach / manager of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St. James Park on February 11, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: Jose Mourinho the head coach / manager of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St. James Park on February 11, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
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NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 11: Alexis Sanchez of Manchester United looks dejected after the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St. James Park on February 11, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 11: Alexis Sanchez of Manchester United looks dejected after the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St. James Park on February 11, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Results recently have certainly not been up to the standards most Manchester United fans have become accustomed to. It’s surprising given the amount the club has spent over the past 12 months.

The defeat to Spurs at Wembley followed by the recent away loss to Newcastle at St James Park. There are some key points Mourinho needs to take away.

Two World Class Midfielders

While Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic are world class on their day. They operate at the polar opposites of the midfield area.

Matic’s main responsibility is to sit between the defence and midfield. His strength both on and off the ball is one of his most publicised talents. However, it’s also his ability to read the game and his positional awareness of where he needs to be to break up the opposition attack.

Pogba is a much more attacking player with an immense range of passing and drive. His preference is to roam into areas further up the pitch in the area between the opposition midfield and defence.

Thus stems the root of the most defining reasons for the losses to Spurs and Newcastle United.

At the beginning of the season Manchester United were brushing teams aside with ease. Mourinho started the season playing a 433 formation, with Ander Herrera sitting between Pogba and Matic.