Manchester United’s shocking loss against Watford last weekend condemned the Red Devils to their third straight defeat in a week. Barely one month into the new season, Josè Mourinho is already feeling the huge pressure of managing one of the richest clubs in the world and the most successful club in English Premier League history.
United has never lost three consecutive games in the Premier League era, even under the guidance of former managers David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal. Nevertheless, any judgement of Mourinho at Manchester United is too early considering the competitiveness of the league. After all, when Leicester City can win the title, anything is possible. The Portuguese can argue that the team still needs to gel because of the influx of new players, with his methodology requiring more time to sink in.
But Mourinho is right to worry about his future. Two other coaches who joined new clubs this summer have been doing fantastic jobs. Ronald Koeman’s Everton remains unbeaten into the new season, while Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City has been completely dominant, winning all five games and sitting comfortably at the top. Time is not an excuse for Mourinho when you consider that Guardiola had even more new players arrive in the summer.
Mourinho also attracted some criticism when he singled out Luke Shaw for his personal mistake after the Watford game. It is a dangerous thing for a manager to point his finger to certain players, particularly as he has just arrived at the club. Reports in England say some United players were ”shocked” by Mourinho’s criticism of the English left defender, as he has been suffering through a long-term groin injury and played the match in pain.
Wayne Rooney also poses a huge problem for Mourinho. The English midfielder plays a deep role in the attacking system, but he clearly is not a natural midfielder and destroyed the tempo of United’s attack against Watford on several occasions. Mourinho wants to establish his stature in the early days of his tenure, emphasizing his admiration of Rooney and repeating his willingness to grant Rooney a first-team position. But the tricky part of the story is that although a local hero, Rooney is no longer a player that can lift United to another level.
With all four players that Mourinho was hoping to get joining the club over the summer, the Portuguese will have very few excuse if United don’t improve soon.
