3 reasons why the Manchester United Board is right not to back Mourinho in the transfer window

Jose Mourinho is a man under serious pressure and with Manchester United continuing to churn out poor results, the Portuguese could soon be facing the axe.

This was not the scenario envisaged by many Red Devils fans when the 55-year-old was appointed to the job two years ago. Following a period of dull football under Louis van Gaal, Mourinho was brought in to steady the ship and to lead the club into a new era of resurgence.

But whiles the Portuguese managed to lead the club to the EFL Cup and Europa League titles in his debut season, things have since not turned out well. In his second season, Man United finished second in the league but could not win a single trophy.

Currently, in his third season, things do not look any better, with the club already nine points below first-placed Manchester City after just seven games into the season.

Much of the talk has centred around the Man United Board’s reluctance to provide funds for Mourinho during the summer transfer window. In what was expected to be a big transfer window for the Red Devils, only rookie Diego Dalot and veteran goalkeeper Lee Grant along with midfielder Fred arrived at Old Trafford.

It is evident that Ed Woodward and the Man United Board refused to back Mourinho in the transfer window, but they indeed have reasons to take such a decision.

Here are three solid reasons why the board was right to not to back the Portuguese:

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#3 Mourinho has so far failed to get the best out of his own signings

Majority of Mourinho's signings have flattered to deceive

When a board as money-conscious as that of Manchester United refuses to back a manager, then there must be a good reason for it. In the case of Jose Mourinho, he has been backed in each of the last four transfer windows since he moved to Old Trafford.

But the fact is that he has so far failed to get the best out of almost all his signings. The likes of Paul Pogba, Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly and Fred are struggling to replicate their best form since joining Man United. These are players who were beasts at their previous clubs, yet have become a pale shadow of themselves under Mourinho.

Obviously, no board would like to be throwing money around without getting the needed results. Its been two years since Mourinho took charge of the club. In that period, he has signed more than ten players but only Pogba and Lukaku can be pointed to as regular first team members.

Alexis Sanchez is also currently struggling after he was swapped with Henrique Mkhitaryan – another Mourinho signing who he failed to get the best out of. So which board in its right senses will continue to back a manager who cannot bring out the best in his own signings? Certainly not the Man United Board.

#2 Over £300 million spent yet no improvement

Over £300 million has been spent in the last two years with little improvement

If you are a part of the Man United Board, then you are probably thinking what at all has Jose Mourinho done with the funds provided for player purchase in the previous transfer windows. It’s already been over £300 million spent yet there has been little improvement to this United team.

The likes of Liverpool and Manchester City have also spent big in recent years, but a clear direction can be seen at both of those two clubs. There is a clear improvement. In the case of the Red Devils, though, players have come in and gone out yet you can’t seem to point out the direction in which the club is heading.

The idea that Mourinho has not been backed enough in the transfer market is neither here nor there. He has already spent over £300 million and the Board and fans should be seeing some improvement by now. That is a basic requirement.

If you go out and buy Bailly and Lindelof for a combined £70 million, you don’t expect the board to replace them the next season. Mourinho has been given all the materials he requested for in the past transfer windows, but it is his inability to improve the team that has led to the Board not backing him this time.

#1 Most of Mourinho’s signings cannot even get into the first team

Mourinho's signs players and still keeps them on the bench

The United board has good reason not to trust Mourinho to do good business during transfer windows. A look at most of his signings proves that the Portuguese is unsure about what he really wants. The purchase of Bailly and Lindelof was supposed to solve the club’s defensive problems yet Chris Smalling and Phil Jones continue to start games.

Throw in the signing of Fred, who continues to languish on the bench whiles a rookie like McTominay starts in games, and you will have the perfect picture of how confused Mourinho seems to have become when it comes to transfers.

If the Board continues buying players who cannot get into the first team, then what is the point? Like I said earlier, this Man United Board is money conscious and if Mourinho has so far failed to buy the right players – as evidenced by his own conviction and team selection – then the Board is right to also withdraw its support.