Jose Mourinho has picked an incredible 43 different starting XI consecutively since he was appointed manager of Manchester United in 2016.
On Saturday, when the Red Devils host Newcastle United at Old Trafford, the Portuguese may line-up a different team to the one that played in midweek and raise the tally to 44.
The very pragmatic Mourinho is dancing on the edge of a cliff like it’s a circus – threatening to undo the many years of success he has enjoyed at the top echelons of world football.
It sad to remember that Jose Mourinho once went five and half years without a home defeat in his trophy-laden career. But not even eight games yet in the premier league and he has already suffered a home defeat to Tottenham Hotspurs and it was made eccentric by the 3-0 scoreline.
Manchester United fans that witnessed the team bully every opponent with gracious attacking football during the days of the great Sir Alex Ferguson may have wondered why the team have become so pedestrian under the self-acclaimed ‘special one’. It currently looks bleak for the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan manager as he has failed to deliver the premier league title since he joined the club.
One may argue that Mourinho has done a remarkable job, winning the Europa League, League Cup and Community shield in his first season at Old Trafford. A feat, he achieved with the likes of the braggadocios Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who poached 28goals in all competitions for a 35-year-old.
Beautiful as it looks, the hard truth is that Mourinho went trophyless last season and the brand of football he played and still plays is strange to majority of Manchester United fans – whom have been spoilt with the sumptuous delivery of attacking football.
And the Portuguese hasn’t helped matters by continuously picking fights with everyone that crosses his path. He fall out with Antonio Conte in their very first
Jose was a troublesome figure in Spain as he harassed Pep Guardiola and his Barcelona team in the name of mind games. He even stop talking to some of his Real Madrid players for hanging out with Barcelona players – as if they don’t play in the same national team.
Now, Mourinho is at it with Paul Pogba. The Frenchman went away with the national team in June and won the 2018 FIFA World Cup, reminding everyone of his special football abilities but after his return to Manchester United. It has been from one row to the other with the manager, who has failed to get the best out of him.
According to reports, Pogba is seeking an escape to Barcelona in January even if Mourinho is sacked and his countryman, Zinedine Zidane is appointed by the club.
Last night against Valencia in the Champions League, Pogba looked like a player without any professional knowledge on the game. He had no impact on the game. Same can be said of Alexis Sanchez. A lot was hinged on the Chilean, following his arrival from Arsenal but he has failed to show up so far apart from his piano session during his unveiling, nothing is exciting from the former Barcelona winger.
Gunners legend, Martin Keown said about Alexis Sanchez after the Valencia match: “It’s almost like they’ve signed the brother of the player at Arsenal.”
Mourinho seems to have run out of ideas and gets out-smarted by other coaches during duels, something he prides himself on in the past. It will be had to look past Jose Mourinho as one of the greatest manager’s in the game but at this time – he is not what Manchester United needs and should quit or get sacked.