In the recent past, Mou has been linked with the Old Trafford job as Louis Van Gaal’s successor, something that has attracted mixed reactions from Manchester United fans. Some of them believe that he could be the perfect fit for the struggling Premier League giants, while others claim that the decision to hire the outspoken and controversial tactician could be regrettable. Well, without further ado, here are some of the reasons why he could easily become successful at the club more than any other manager after Sir Alex Ferguson.
Mourinho's relationship with young players has been misunderstood
This is one of the most common excuses used by anti-Mourinho campaigners. A manager of Mou’s calibre can never be immune to criticism regardless of the number of titles he wins per season. The same case applied to Sir Alex Ferguson when he was in charge of Man United for 27 years; the Scot was regularly accused of not giving African players a chance but very few fans would acknowledge that the likes of South African Quinton Fortune was quite popular at Old Trafford. The same case applied to Eric Djemba-Djemba from Cameroon, Manucho from Angola, and Mame Biram Diouf from Senegal, who did very little to impress the legendary tactician.
Fortune (right) celebrates a previous league goal for Man United
Given the above example, it really doesn’t matter whether a footballer is from Africa, Asia, Europe, or any other continent; what matters most is their ability to deliver, and do it consistently. That is exactly what has always dictated Mourinho’s squad selection in terms of age.
If top managers were being judged by the ability to give youthful players a chance, then the likes of Arsene Wenger would boast of several Champions League trophies at the moment, and a league title to defend. Unfortunately, the Frenchman has never won the Champions League title in his managerial career, and has gone for more than a decade without the league title.
Mourinho's arrogance and sideshows are good for Man United
Mourinho’s bossy character also been another issue of great concern among his critics. But the truth is, after Fergie’s resignation, The Red devils have not had the type of manager who lights up the Theatre of Dreams with his command and authoritativeness. The Old Trafford side has transformed from a roaring lion to a timid cub within a span of three years.
Mou is more authoritative than arrogant, and that is the kind of character that made SAF successful in England. From his famous hair-dryer rants and fergie-time pressure on his players and match officials, the 74-year-old proved to the whole world that it pays to be commanding.
Don't dare me: The ex-Chelsea boss confronts his Arsenal counterpart during their Premier League clash on October 5, 2014
On the contrary, apart from his recent hilarious fall during the Man United vs Arsenal game at Old Trafford on February 28, 2016, you would spend a lifetime trying to comb the internet for videos of LVG issuing instructions to his players from the touchline. One might argue that every manager has his own way of commanding his squad but one thing is clear; it requires a little bit of motivation to win games, and that is something the former Los Blancos boss specializes in.
The ex-Man United boss yells at the linesman during a previous league match at Old Trafford
The rise of Premier League underdogs and the invasion of top managers
With the rise of clubs such as Leicester City and the arrival of top managers to the Premier League such as Pep Guardiola at Man City, Rafa Benitez at Newcastle United, Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, Claudio Ranieri at Leicester and the yet-to-be-confirmed Antonio Conte at Chelsea, the Red Devils would be gambling with their new season if they fail to part ways with LVG, for the umpteenth time.
Jurgen Klopp signs for Liverpool on October 8, 2015
As The Citizens were busy negotiating with Pep Guardiola at night, The Red Devils were engrossed in a deep slumber. It is now time for Ed Woodward and Co to wake up and smell the coffee; next season’s Premier League is set to be one of the toughest in recent times. The fallen giants such as Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City will be determined to announce their comeback with a bang, stubborn Leicester City will want to continue with their resurgence, and the top-four slot will no longer be a guarantee for any club.
Here is a preview of Pep's record at Barca
The 'Special' factor in Mourinho's managerial career
As much as there are so many qualified and experienced managers out there ready to accept Ed Woodward’s call, Jose Mourinho stands out as the only one who can neutralize Pep Guardiola's expected influence in the Premier League, and dominance in the city of Manchester. The rivalry between the two master tacticians dates back to their reign in La Liga when Pep was in charge of Barcelona and Mou at Real Madrid.
Mourinho vs Pep Guardiola head to head record:
Matches played: 15
Games won (Pep): 7
Games won (Mou): 3
Games drawn: 5
Mou's exceptional resume is also something worth mentioning; between 2003 and 2013, the Portuguese tactician did not go a single calendar year without at least one trophy. If the Red Devils are serious about regaining their lost glory, they need to hire a proven performer and that is where Jose comes in.
Well, numbers don't lie: With Mou on their side, Man United is almost assured of a Champions League spot every season
He has actually won the league title with his last four clubs namely FC Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid. His other notable achievements include being named the Onze d’Or Coach of the Year in 2005, FIFA World Coach of the Year in 2010, Premier League Manager of the Year thrice in 2004/06, 2005/06, and 2014/15, Serie A Manager of the Year in 2008/09 and 2009/10, and UEFA Manager of the year in 2002/03 and 2003/04.
Fortunately, the Old Trafford outfit have one last choice; they can either sit back and watch themselves transform into another Liverpool or Arsenal, with only history books and YouTube videos to remember their glory days, or act now by hiring the ‘Special One’ for this special job.
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