When Jose Mourhino arrived at Old Trafford last season the mission was clear – get the club back to the path of history. It was obvious that the club in the red side of Manchester has not been itself since the exit of the acclaimed most successful coach in England, Sir Alex Ferguson.
The club saw its fortunes both on the pitch and in net worth nose dived as the team looked a shadow of its old self. There was evident lack of cohesion, team spirit disappeared and the club struggled under both David Moyes and Louis van Gaal. United could not even make it to the UEFA champions league on two occasions as they finished outside of top 4 on the log.
Hope was however rekindled when the Special One agreed to manage the club he had always been tipped to coach. He made his intention known by identifying some key players he wanted to work with. The club owners obliged his requests and he landed Swedish talismanic striker, Zlantan Ibrahimovich on free transfer. He also got Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borrusia Dortmund before snatching Eric Bailey from the La Liga. Then came the world record signing of Paul Pogba who was sold by United to Juve four years earlier.
At the end of the season, Mourhino would see himself as being successful as he won the Europa League, one trophy that has remain elusive for United. Not only that the trophy is record breaking, it also ensured that the red armies got back to the champions league even after failing to make the top 4 in the league.
It’s a new season and the Portuguese has left no one in doubt as to what his intentions are. His utmost desire is to win the English Premier League for United, and he has taken steps towards achieving his aims.
Mourhino has indicated that he wanted four additions in different departments of the team, and he has since got three out of the four leading to the start of the season while it is believed he would land the fourth before the transfer window closes by end of August.
With the arrival of defender Victor Lindelof, and the duo of Nemanja Matic and Romelu Lukaku from premier league rivals, Chelsea and Everton, Jose is sure poised for a battle to land the EPL. The trio have also shown readiness and quick adaptation to the team. It is believed that the manager may have psyched them all up to fix their gaze at the trophy.
Mourhino deployed all his new additions in the starting line up against Real Madrid in Tuesday’s Super Cup tie and they all proved their mettle. Lindelof was solid rock at the back, checking the speed and tactical strength of the Madrid compact front led by Benzema. He held his head and was very disciplined in his tackles. He covered for Anthonio Valencia most part of the night as the United’s captain dashes forward to help the attack.
Though Lukaku got United’s consolatory goal on the night, he also missed a sitter that fell to his weaker right foot. He showed great ability to put defenders on their toes and pointer to opponents in the premier league to brace up for his challenge. He is a trusted EPL veteran and carries power in his left leg. His physicality will always be a cause for worry for many defenders who will face in the red jersey of Manchester United this season.
Nemanja Matic was arguably United’s best player on the night. He provided the needed cover for the back four who looked shaky throughout the encounter. Matic was everywhere on the pitch and hardly missed any tackle. He was always available to pick up loose balls and was well positioned to receive passes throughout the game. His powerful shot came off Keylon Navas for Lukaku to tap home the consolatory goal.
Given what the team displayed against a more compact and tactical Madrid on Tuesday, it could be said that the team is in shape for Englaish top honours this season. The present United time has class and the bench is equally rich. There is depth and the likes of Pogba and Herrera can now be more upward mobile and inject more creativity into the team.
As the reds file out against West Ham United in their season’s curtain raiser on Sunday, it is expected that the players would make a statement with their display while the rest of the worl keep our fingers cross till end of season.
