Barely two months after he was sacked at Chelsea, Jose Mourinho is in the news again. The former Real Madrid manager is a step closer to Manchester United and a Premier League return after his representatives held talks with the Old Trafford hierarchy as they line up a successor to Louis van Gaal.
Although, Van Gaal is still in charge and has a contract that ends in 2017, but United’s move for Mourinho means that the Dutchman is likely to leave at the end of the season, with ‘The Special One’ succeeding his old mentor.
No job offer has been made to Mourinho as United make their soundings out, but the man sacked by Chelsea in December, seven months after winning the title, now looks certain to be in opposition to old adversary Pep Guardiola when the Spaniard takes charge at arch-rivals Manchester City.
The reaction of United’s fans to this may create divergent opinions; Mourinho has always been a divisive figure during his career, liberally sprinkled with controversies and when it was suggested just days after he left Chelsea that he might be Old Trafford-bound, opinion was mixed.
With Van Gaal’s poor run at United and fans getting frustrated at his result, the news of Mourinho taking the job at Old Trafford is becoming more appealing to the United fans.
The Portuguese tactician is belived to be the man who can rekindle the fight, defiance and colour at Old Trafford after the drab flourishes applied to “The Theatre of Dreams” by David Moyes and Van Gaal since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 after 26 years.
And Old Trafford’s appetite for Mourinho’s unique combination of abrasive self-confidence mixed with consistent success will have been sharpened by City’s coup in hiring Pep Guardiola, the world’s most celebrated coach to the Etihad stadium.
United fans will demand a coach who can stand toe-to-toe with the iconic Guardiola, not just in fighting their corner, but in bringing success and Mourinho’s track record makes him that man.
Chelsea’s fans may have mixed emotions to see the manager they worshipped battling them on all fronts, but they will also accept it was not his decision to leave Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho’s career has been characterised by success but his detractors would suggest it has come at a price that has put policy before football that is pleasing on the eye, how would that sit at Old Trafford?
One of the main criticisms of Van Gaal is that £250m spent on new players has delivered a functional, joyless style that has dulled Old Trafford’s senses, including a run of 11 home games without a first-half goal this season.
The shadow of the flamboyant, all-out attack of the Ferguson era has hung heavily over both Moyes and Van Gaal, and there will be pressure on Mourinho to alter his usual functional template.
He might argue, with plenty of justification, that any reservations about his methods are eased by the fact he is a virtual guarantee of trophies – something Old Trafford’s traditionalists may accept as a price worth paying for the Mourinho ticket.
The 53-year-old has observed Old Trafford for long enough to know what is required and while his first priority is always to win, he is wise enough to know that a certain style is demanded.
Silverware will do for starters. And few managers are better at that.
Anthony Nlebem
