Jose Mourinho is facing the biggest task of his managerial career at Manchester United
Jose Mourinho has had six months since leaving Chelsea to plan what he would do if hired by Manchester United – just as well, because the task awaiting him at Old Trafford looks to be the biggest of his career.
Forget the FA Cup win that proved Louis van Gaal’s swansong, this is a squad in need of a cull, and no manager will be busier in this summer’s transfer window than Mourinho. For him, the season starts now.
Jose is very specific about what he wants from a player and what he doesn’t – ask Juan Mata, who went from Chelsea player of the year to surplus to requirements on Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge.
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He is going to want to play high-tempo, pressure football. That means pace and mobility, and I don’t see much of that when I look through the current United squad.
I’d expect Mourinho to sell Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind, Antonio Valencia, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick and Ashley Young. If Mata stays it’ll be a miracle.
Defensive priorities
Memphis Depay could get the benefit of the doubt after just one season at the club. David de Gea, Luke Shaw, Chris Smalling, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford should be safe.
I think he’ll get on brilliantly with Wayne Rooney, and, while he’ll have to buy another defender, he could be the man to finally realise the potential that Sir Alex Ferguson saw in Phil Jones.
Restoring a strong defensive partnership will be a priority. Jones could be a great left-sided centre-back in the mould of John Terry alongside Smalling; it’s still in there somewhere, it just needs harnessing.
He’ll also get plenty to spend, perhaps £250m if he can recoup £100m in sales. Integrating new arrivals with those he is keeping will be perhaps Jose’s biggest challenge at United.
A shorter honeymoon period?
Mourinho has to find quality, and he has to get it to work quickly. United cannot afford not to reach the Champions League or challenge for the Premier League for another year.
He also might feel a sense of urgency from supporters. It seems not every United is convinced he is a perfect fit for the club, and that could mean a shorter honeymoon period if results start badly.
A year ago I wrote that Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be a brilliant signing for the club. The Swede is such a clever footballer and so strong, and still has one more good season left in him.
His signing would also, in a way, mitigate the loss of Champions League football. It would be a statement, a huge boost to United that would give wavering targets another reason to join Mourinho’s revolution.