At Last Mourinho Makes Sense But United Have Nothing To Fear …
After months of trying, has Jose Mourinho finally learned to make sense when commenting on United?
The Chelsea boss produced laughter last season when moaning about United’s luck with referees and the club’s conspiracy with the fixture list to deny the former champions a hatrick of titles.
Mourinho’s latest confessions are intended as similar mischief and designed to strangle last season’s champions with the weight of expectation.
United have galloped out of the starting gates this transfer window to add £50 million of talent to the best team in the land. Mourinho on the other hand, in a clear reversal of fortune, has brought in free-transfer bargains.
Liverpool and Arsenal have still to reshape their squads, leaving some giddy Red observers to dream of the title defence as little more than a coronation. It will not be but Mourinho is happy to stoke the pressure even before the season begins.
“I’m not worried,” he said. “United can only play with 11 players and if they played them all, Ryan Giggs would be out, which would make me very happy.
“When Chelsea were spending, everybody said we had the obligation to win. ‘Chelsea are buying their titles,’ they said.
“Now I’m waiting to see if people put us in the last place of the title candidates as they have to put United first, Liverpool second - they haven’t spent much yet but they will - and then Arsenal, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Newcastle.”
Who can argue with the Chelsea boss that in acting with such rapidity, Sir Alex has added to the pressure on himself and the team? The manager will be drowned in derision if Nani, Hargreaves, Anderson and the much anticipated new striker, fail to gel, or flop miserably.
Five of United’s first 12 games next season will be important tests of the mettle of the reshaped squad, pitting the team against the likes of City, Spurs, Sunderland, Chelsea and Arsenal. Fans will well remember how early last season, Sir Alex’s men were able to build up a head of steam, by knocking over the Premiership’s weaker sides. United faced just four teams of quality in their opening 15 encounters.
As champions, United will start as slight favourites to retain their trophy. The media will be poised to recast the slightest loss of form as a stumble or worse because United in ‘crisis’ is the best ratings / circulation-booster in town.
So Mourinho’s comments are merely statements of the obvious. Fortunately, United are well-used to this pressure to be first, whether or not they are the Premiership’s best. And Sir Alex gives every indication that his determination is as strong as ever as he enters his 22nd year at the United helm.
“This United team is growing together. It is young enough to improve,” Ferguson told The Sun. “There is a great appetite and enthusiasm among this group of players.
I trust them, especially when they have had a setback. They have the character to pick themselves up and deliver the right response.”
“When you are building a new team you’ve got more work to do in terms of getting the side to gel, getting that understanding and spirit of Manchester United. I think once the foreign players get inside the club and they understand the history, it seeps through to them and they become Manchester United players.”
Chelsea should be stronger next season, especially in defence and will trust in the emerging talent of Obi Mikel and the enduring strengths of Drogba, Terry, Cech and Lampard to carry the team in all competitions.
Yet, for the first time in four years, United will start the season with the greater confidence. The squad is experienced whilst the average age is dropping. Its two best players are moving towards their peak years. If Fergie hits the jackpot and brings in a striker who will add to the team’s fluency - please, not Trezeguet - United will be the team to beat next season.
Sir Alex’s successful title defence will rest on Scholes and Ronaldo maintaining their form, on Rooney recovering the consistency of old and on Carrick achieving greater authority in his second year. Much is expected of Evra and Hargreaves. Rather fewer hopes should be invested in the undoubted talents of Nani and Anderson, who may need a season to settle. If Van Der Sar, Ferdinand, Vidic and Neville perform to their capabilities and fine performances continue to be teased from Ryan Giggs, United have every chance next term,as Mourinho knows.
