There is a storm rising at Manchester United, and Jose Mourinho is at the center of it all. After coming under heavy criticism earlier in the season for back-to-back defeats in the Premier League to Bournemouth and Tottenham, Jose seemed to have steadied the ship and masterminded three consecutive away victories in the league and Champions League.
That string of positive results seemed to calm the situation at Old Trafford, but in the space of the last five days, the flames have once more been rekindled. The draw at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford in the league set the rumor mills in motion, which was intensified when Mourinho announced his squad to face Derby County in the Carabao Cup which controversially had Paul Pogba left off the team entirely, with Mourinho further stating that he had stripped Pogba off the captaincy and that the Frenchman would never skipper the team while he was in charge of the club.
He loves the club
Mourinho has always held a distinct admiration for Manchester United, even from his tenure as Chelsea boss, and despite being famed for his controversial snipes, the Old Trafford outfit had never been on the receiving end of his jibes.
He held a distinct respect for Sir Alex Ferguson, and always took out every opportunity to praise the legendary manager.
The Old Trafford job is one he had wanted for a long time, and on his unveiling thanked the board for making his dreams come true before stating that he is coaching the biggest club in the UK.
After the chastening 3-0 defeat to Tottenham, Mourinho went over to the fans and applauded them with a United scarf in his hand, pointing to the badge, and this was symbolic of the respect he has for the club.
The love and passion Mourinho has for United means that he would always have the club’s best interests at heart, and he more than anyone else would fight tooth and nails to find a solution to the conundrum facing the club, and the board would do well to give Mourinho the time needed to sort out the issues at the club.
It would cause further disruption
It is a well-known fact that every new coach comes in with his own new methods, training personnel and tactics, almost overhauling every existing system at the club.
Even though reports emanating from the United camp indicate that all is not rosy, with the seeming rift between Mourinho and Pogba increasing by the day, as well as public lashing of the media and some senior players, if Mou is sacked, things would go to an even higher level.
Any new coach would take some time to settle down, and this would go in contrast to clubs like Manchester City, Tottenham, and Liverpool who have steady structures.
Mourinho’s dismissal would be counterproductive for Manchester United, as all the [progress made under Jose would be erased, and it would be back to square one for the club.
Manchester United was significantly impressed with what Jose Mourinho had achieved in his first year at the helm of the club that he was handed a new contract extension in January.
The new deal made the 55-year-old further cemented his stock as one of the highest paid managers in the world, and apparently, his paycheck is so hefty Mou himself joked that United could not afford to sack him.
Football is big business, and like all other businesses, it’s all about the numbers. The costs of severing the contract of a marquee coach in the mold of Mourinho is too exuberant, with pay-offs and compensation rising to figures as high as £12m.
The costs involved in terminating Mourinho’s contract are really off the roof, and it would be in United’s best financial interests to let him get on with his job.