Should Jose Mourinho leave Man United?

Jose Mourinho stands as one of the best managers of all-time.

From his Champions League win at Porto to major success at Chelsea, Internazionale, Real Madrid, and to some degree Manchester United, he has won multiple leagues, cups, and individual awards. He has also enhanced the games of many top players, such as Lampard, Terry, Ronaldo, etc.

However, despite his glowing record, he has often come unstuck at his clubs, and seemingly for his persona and means of engaging with players.

This was perhaps most notable at Chelsea, in his second spell from 2013 to 2015. After winning the league in 14/15, the team and he had fallen out, and to quote then Managing Director Emanalo, there was a "palpable discord" between the players and Mourinho. It was far simpler to remove the manager, in this case.

Whilst there have been talks of a schism between Pogba and Mourinho at United, it doesn't seem yet that there is a major falling out as occurred at Chelsea.

But there is talk, in some quarters and some facets of the Man United fanbase, for him to be sacked. Is this the right option? Is it hasty? Or is it correct?

I'm not a Manchester United fan, but even as a Gooner, I have respect for the club due to its history, tradition, successes and culture. Most recall the epic games between Arsenal and United, and the enmity and now friendship that Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger had.

This is a multi-faceted issue though since there is a view amongst fans that the style of play is boring, and not consistent with Man United's playing traditions. This has been evident since Sir Matt Busby's time.

And whilst their Noisy Neighbours are winning leagues in record-breaking fashion, this too adds to angst. City has generally been a smaller club than Man United over many decades, but now are looking to rival their global standing and brand. it's like having a younger sibling, or a child, who upstages you in a game or competition. Fair play to them, but it can be embarrassing to take and unsettling. City also are playing football in a stellar manner, and the sheer beauty of their football as it were is grating.

So whilst there is a large backdrop, is getting rid of Mourinho the right option? Aren't there bigger issues at play, which the "Jose issue" is masking?

Does style of play matter?

It's apparent that playing style is important to United fans, given their traditions as a football club.

From the Busby Babes, through to the 1968 European Cup team, and the Sir Alex Ferguson days, there has been an undercurrent of flowing and attacking football.

Adherence to tradition is significant. But then does it matter, ultimately? If United finished 1st every season but played dull football, would it matter considering they were champions? Or if they finished sixth, but played "sexy football", would this ameliorate a woeful league position?

It's a very old argument to cite here. But then sport is about success and not style per se.

The issue with style is possibly more about City's record-breaking league win, and the manner of football they are playing. Moreover, Klopp's high energy style is also telling, and Man United and Liverpool are hardly friends...

So there is a surrounding backdrop here, and it's far deeper than Jose being "boring" in his style.

Who replaces him?

If Mourinho goes, who replaces him?

There are few evident top-level managers about.

Zidane has been mooted, and he did well to win three Champions Leagues in a row. However, without being cynical, Ronaldo was the driving force in them winning the Champions Leagues.

Jardim is available and could do well at a bigger club with a larger budget.

Though Allegri will stay at Juve, especially with Ronaldo joining them. And Ancelotti is at Napoli.

Is Conte an option? Possibly. He has PL winning experience and knows how to manage big clubs.

However, the options are not apparent, and whilst Zidane may be an attractive option, the effect of Ronaldo cannot be extracted from his successes.

Pochettino is another mooted candidate, though Pochettino is the best manager Spurs have had in possibly decades. Tottenham holistically is a club on the up, and there is little chance they would let him leave. Only if he was adamant to go, would he attempt it, or Levy would consider it? I doubt it unless United made Levy (a notorious financial task-master according to agents and rival chairmen) an offer he couldn't refuse.

Though Wenger is still available, and he's already won the league at Old Trafford before. At the least, a former manager (and current manager) are good friends of his...

Not just the manager

Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, there have been several factors causing a comparative malaise. Yes, they've won three trophies since 2013 - the FA Cup, League Cup, and Europa League.

But they didn't plan for life post- Sir Alex Ferguson. The club was geared towards his domineering presence and success, and the structures in place couldn't account for his departure.

Moreover, appointing Moyes and van Gaal were clearly errors, and both were not attuned to getting United back as a winning club.

A major facet though is the Glazers. Yes, success was attained under Sir Alex, but largely in spite of the Glazers, and not because of them. The Glazers have allowed a lot of spending, but have not provided a strong impetus in getting the club forward. Man United is a huge commercial entity, and the rationale for their ownership seems to be revenue generation more than winning trophies. With this attitude in place, things are evidently deeper than Mourinho's place in the club.

Player hostility and under-performance

There is talk of a rift between recent World Cup winner Pogba and Mourinho.

If there is, then it seems that the events at Chelsea and Real Madrid to some extent (with Ronaldo and Ramos) were foreshadowing current events.

This is just speculation, and Mourinho has said that there is no rift. Additionally, Luke Shaw has lost weight and scored a great winner vs. Leicester City. A schism had emerged between the two but now seems to have receded as Shaw is back to prime fitness.

There also is the issue of Sanchez, Martial, and Rashford, who for varying reasons have not featured as regularly.

Alexis, since joining from Arsenal, has not played to the levels shown at the Gunners. Martial has not kicked on from his joining under van Gaal. Rashford also made his debut under van Gaal and hasn't thus far attained his potential.

The squad doesn't look as harmonious as it could be, but the exact nature of this is moot at best.

City just too good

City won the league by a 100 points for a reason. They are just too good.

Pep is arguably the best manager in world football.

Aguero, Silva, de Bruyne, etc. are prime world class players. Sterling, Mahrez, Fernandinho, Jesus, Walker, Ederson, etc. are likewise top quality.

United have great players too, but Guardiola has taken City to a new tactical level, which United are behind in some distance.

So maybe Mourinho needs to be cut some slack? Who knows? What is apparent though is that Man City are playing at an exceedingly high level, and arguably at this state are the greatest ever PL-era team.

Mourinho did finish second to them last season, and this is no disgrace, given City's advanced development stage. So maybe the issues cannot just extend to Mourinho's supposed incompetence and/or issues with the players.

Director of Football?

There are concerns that United have problems in attaining players, or more specifically the right kinds of players in a timely manner.

Toby Alderweirled of Tottenham was linked heavily to the club, but he has stayed at Spurs for now. The club's Executive VP, Mr. Ed Woodward, is tasked with handling transfers. The club has also been charged with missing important targets.

Could a director of football help things? Possibly.

Arsenal has recently appointed Raul Sanhelli as head of football operations. To all intents and purposes, he is the club's director of football and performed this adeptly at Barcelona.

Should United follow suit? It would clarify expectations between the board and manager, and ensure that a football specialist can conduct transfers and pursue targets.

Mourinho himself has said that he's a head coach essentially, and not a manager who controls all footballing operations. Attaining a director of football can surely clarify roles, duties, and outcomes.

Conclusion

As a neutral, I believe United should retain Mourinho, for now. Yes, the playing style is not per United traditions. And there may be tensions between him and the players.

But the issues transcend his status at the club. The board/Glazers are still present and would be if he left.

Moreover, who is readily available should he go?

It's not enough as merely removing him, and everything enhancing. It needs to follow a defined process and structure.

The seeds of United's current difficulties stem from the latter Sir Alex period. The club didn't prepare for his departure, and the seeds sown then are now bearing fruit.

This should stand as a lesson for all clubs - that proper planning must exist in all cases and scenarios. The period 2007-2013 saw some of United's greatest ever triumphs. But it also saw a lack of succession planning and contingency formulation, which has seen United fall from its prior place of grace.