Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United managerial career is hanging by a thread. William Deuschle discusses whether or not he thinks it’s time for Ed Woodward to cut the rope.
Once upon a time, Jose Mourinho was called the “Special One”. He was supposed to be the hero to swoop in and save Manchester United from an ailing past debacle of a reign from Louis Van Gaal.
Now, Mourinho looks like the villain of his own team after leading United to their worst Premier League start in franchise history.
From a once enigmatic and energy charged manager who would baffle the media with his press conferences and tactics has turned into a sullen image. A shadow of his former self.
His press conferences are more than likely to bring criticism and to pick a fight than cite tactics or admit that they just weren’t good enough.
After his heated exchange with Paul Pogba in training, he came out and said: “No player is bigger than the club”. And he’s right only if he was referring to just players.
Say what you want about Pogba, as his handling of the situation has been less than tactful, but it shows some grit to speak out indirectly about the manager after poor performances.
Regardless of who’s is right or wrong on the Pogba vs. Mourinho issue, if there was ever a time to part ways, it is now before the team sinks even further into negativity and risks losing more points under Mourinho.
Saturday’s loss to West Ham proved that Mourinho has not only lost the dressing room, if he hadn’t already, but he has lost his once great tactical prowess.
There was little point in choosing Scott McTominay as part of a three-man defense with Eric Bailly on the bench at West Ham. There was little point in making a fit Alexis Sanchez travel and then not name him in the match squad.
Nothing Mourinho says seems to have a point anymore because the players don’t want to play for him. He praised West Ham’s intensity but the real question he should be asking was where was United’s?
Anyone would be a better fit than Jose Mourinho now. Michael Carrick or Zinedine Zidane would be the most obvious choices if Mourinho were to be sacked.
The worst part about the entire situation is that we have seen it before. This isn’t the first time that Mourinho enacted his own downfall. Most recently in the lead-up to being booted out of Chelsea in December of 2015, his antics were repeated.
Spiralling down towards the relegation zone, the similarities between that sacking and this downward spiral are very similar.
He hit out at the clubs transfer policies and complained that he didn’t get the talent he was looking for and stating he wasn’t backed enough. Just as he did all throughout United’s summer tour.
He hit out at the teams’ mentality and blamed the players work ethic, warning that the youth players would step in if things didn’t improve. Just as he has done with his comments after United’s loss to Derby on penalties when he said that “he knew he’d be in trouble with Phil Jones taking a penalty”.
He incited a massive conflict with team physio Eva Carneiro just as he has been doing with his long dispute with Paul Pogba this season.
It was clear that Mourinho was never seen as a long-term prospect of a manager for Manchester United but shame on them for not foreseeing this when past precedent was so strong.
Blame it on a rush to get back to winning ways or declining sponsorship deals or a quick fix to win a trophy. Mourinho’s third season in charge is as easy to predict as ever.
Tactically, magisterially and personally, Mourinho will never change. His style that was once so game-changing and electric has devolved into an outdated and stifling burden.
The only cure to this is Ed Woodward. He has the power to pull the plug on this failing experiment and release the players, fans and club from Mourinho’s shackles.
It’s necessary while the season is still salvageable. It’s time to admit that it just didn’t work out and that happens. The time of a 20+ year managerial reign is all but over. But it’s time for Jose Mourinho to go.
Before its too late.