It was inevitable really, wasn't it? Third season and all that. This time, however, the Jose Mourinho implosion was more comical, it seems. The Manchester United board, ultimately, paid the price for extending his contract. Had they not done their research into his third season sackings? Yet, somehow, Mourinho is still a wanted man.
The signs were telling from the moment the season was underway. His contract extension was the biggest mistake. It gave Mourinho the opportunity to come out all guns blazing, criticising the club's transfer policy among other things about how United operated. Mourinho wanted a central defender but the board thought otherwise. Besides, it's not like Mourinho had bought two for £61 million in the past two summer transfer windows. The recruitment was all wrong. The two he has bought, Bailly and Lindelof, have both been below par. To add that to Lukaku, Fred, Sanchez and Matic of under-performing transfers, United under Mourinho have wasted £273 million.
Then he lambasted Anthony Martial for leaving the US tour to visit his newly born son, praising the "fantastic spirit...in the majority of players". At about the same time, Nathaniel Clyne had left Liverpool's US tour early for the same reasons. There was no criticism from Klopp. It is this outdated public criticism of his players in the press that has attributed to Mourinho's downfall. It does not work anymore, much like his tactics.
The defensive, pragmatic approach that has made Mourinho who he is today is not right for modern football. The best teams have a heavy attacking philosophy with impetus on pressing. None were present in his Manchester United side, who were embarassed against Manchester City and Liverpool who deploy such tactics.
Mourinho's whole managerial career has been based as being the underdog. At Porto, he won the Champions League which was unthinkable. At Chelsea, despite all the riches, the underdog mentality shone through to which he won two Premier League titles. At Inter Milan, he replicated his feet at Porto and won the Champions League. At Real Madrid, because of the team Barcelona had, he was able to use the underdog which saw him beat Barca to the La Liga title in 2012. The problem is that Manchester United are not the underdogs - polar opposites, in fact. The biggest club in the world can not have an underdog mentality. It doesn't make sense, but Mourinho's arrogance of his way or the highway meant he resisted changing his style which, obviously, had severe consequences.
What has also been present at most clubs much like his underdog mentality is his third season implosion. The first time at Chelsea remarkably saw a fourth season implosion over disagreements with the board. No such things happened at Inter as he left after two years to join Real. He left in 2013 a year after signing a contract extension until 2016. His Chelsea return was marred by his treatment of then Chelsea physio Eva Carniero, with him leaving in December with his contract expiring in 2019. Manchester United was much the shame as once again a contract extension, this time until 2020, allowed for a big pay off - reportedly £22.5 million.
But despite his failures, his treatment towards players, his treatment towards staff, his treatment of the press, clubs still view Mourinho as an employable manager. Florentino Perez, Real Madrid's president, is a big fan of Mourinho and apparently wants him to become the next Real manager. Does he have a short memory? Another of his former club's, Inter Milan, is interested in his services. Are they blind? Have they just become amnesiac?
Mourinho should be finished in football. The way he manages is not compatible to modern football. The Special One is no longer special. He demanded respect after losing 3-0 to Tottenham, but he deserves no respect from anyone.
The signs were telling from the moment the season was underway. His contract extension was the biggest mistake. It gave Mourinho the opportunity to come out all guns blazing, criticising the club's transfer policy among other things about how United operated. Mourinho wanted a central defender but the board thought otherwise. Besides, it's not like Mourinho had bought two for £61 million in the past two summer transfer windows. The recruitment was all wrong. The two he has bought, Bailly and Lindelof, have both been below par. To add that to Lukaku, Fred, Sanchez and Matic of under-performing transfers, United under Mourinho have wasted £273 million.
Then he lambasted Anthony Martial for leaving the US tour to visit his newly born son, praising the "fantastic spirit...in the majority of players". At about the same time, Nathaniel Clyne had left Liverpool's US tour early for the same reasons. There was no criticism from Klopp. It is this outdated public criticism of his players in the press that has attributed to Mourinho's downfall. It does not work anymore, much like his tactics.
The defensive, pragmatic approach that has made Mourinho who he is today is not right for modern football. The best teams have a heavy attacking philosophy with impetus on pressing. None were present in his Manchester United side, who were embarassed against Manchester City and Liverpool who deploy such tactics.
Mourinho's whole managerial career has been based as being the underdog. At Porto, he won the Champions League which was unthinkable. At Chelsea, despite all the riches, the underdog mentality shone through to which he won two Premier League titles. At Inter Milan, he replicated his feet at Porto and won the Champions League. At Real Madrid, because of the team Barcelona had, he was able to use the underdog which saw him beat Barca to the La Liga title in 2012. The problem is that Manchester United are not the underdogs - polar opposites, in fact. The biggest club in the world can not have an underdog mentality. It doesn't make sense, but Mourinho's arrogance of his way or the highway meant he resisted changing his style which, obviously, had severe consequences.
What has also been present at most clubs much like his underdog mentality is his third season implosion. The first time at Chelsea remarkably saw a fourth season implosion over disagreements with the board. No such things happened at Inter as he left after two years to join Real. He left in 2013 a year after signing a contract extension until 2016. His Chelsea return was marred by his treatment of then Chelsea physio Eva Carniero, with him leaving in December with his contract expiring in 2019. Manchester United was much the shame as once again a contract extension, this time until 2020, allowed for a big pay off - reportedly £22.5 million.
But despite his failures, his treatment towards players, his treatment towards staff, his treatment of the press, clubs still view Mourinho as an employable manager. Florentino Perez, Real Madrid's president, is a big fan of Mourinho and apparently wants him to become the next Real manager. Does he have a short memory? Another of his former club's, Inter Milan, is interested in his services. Are they blind? Have they just become amnesiac?
Mourinho should be finished in football. The way he manages is not compatible to modern football. The Special One is no longer special. He demanded respect after losing 3-0 to Tottenham, but he deserves no respect from anyone.
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