When José Mourinho arrived to that big club in crisis, got it winning trophies and games consistently again but then was "thrown under the bus".
The manager who was bringing back Manchester United but then saw his funding get cut off.
[Thread]
The manager who was bringing back Manchester United but then saw his funding get cut off.
[Thread]
"I never wanted United to be second to anybody. Only the best would be good enough."
- Matt Busby
"We had a virus that would infect everyone at United: winning."
- Sir Alex Ferguson
These are the key values of Manchester United.
But now, the club is stuck in a chaotic loop...
- Matt Busby
"We had a virus that would infect everyone at United: winning."
- Sir Alex Ferguson
These are the key values of Manchester United.
But now, the club is stuck in a chaotic loop...
First, a little context is necessary.
When the Glazers bought the club in 2006, Man United (who already had a winning team) slowed down the investment in the squad.
By SAF's retirement in 2013, the key players were old and a rejuvenation in the project was very needed.
When the Glazers bought the club in 2006, Man United (who already had a winning team) slowed down the investment in the squad.
By SAF's retirement in 2013, the key players were old and a rejuvenation in the project was very needed.
In comes David Moyes, chosen by the board, who said after a rough start:
"I will fix it, I have no doubt about that. We have to improve. I am still getting to know them."
He was sacked before the season ended, a week after saying: "We need to rebuild."
Next up: Louis Van Gaal.
"I will fix it, I have no doubt about that. We have to improve. I am still getting to know them."
He was sacked before the season ended, a week after saying: "We need to rebuild."
Next up: Louis Van Gaal.
Van Gaal is a coach with statute.
Still, he was called outdated, attacked by the media and booed by the fans for the 'boring football' at United.
Like Moyes, he too said United needed a rebuild and pointed out the club's struggles in the market.
He was sacked after 2 years.
Still, he was called outdated, attacked by the media and booed by the fans for the 'boring football' at United.
Like Moyes, he too said United needed a rebuild and pointed out the club's struggles in the market.
He was sacked after 2 years.
Van Gaal, 2015: "We are below expectations, but you have to see the circumstances. How I have to work."
He got 4th, then 5th and the FA Cup.
Van Gaal, 2016: "I think the fans' expectations are much too high. We are a team in transition, I have said that since I started here."
He got 4th, then 5th and the FA Cup.
Van Gaal, 2016: "I think the fans' expectations are much too high. We are a team in transition, I have said that since I started here."
Man United were losing their identity, they weren't the same club anymore. So in 2016, United went all in for José Mourinho.
And that's when things got complicated.
José Mourinho, 2016: "It's easy to say: 'Let's get back to the top four'. I'm more aggressive, I want to win."
And that's when things got complicated.
José Mourinho, 2016: "It's easy to say: 'Let's get back to the top four'. I'm more aggressive, I want to win."
His relationship with the media remained the same as always.
Coaching Man United is always the hot seat, Van Gaal even stated that the United pundits created a negative atmosphere around the club.
But that's nothing that Mourinho wasn't already used to.
Coaching Man United is always the hot seat, Van Gaal even stated that the United pundits created a negative atmosphere around the club.
But that's nothing that Mourinho wasn't already used to.
In Mourinho's first year, United added Pogba, Mkhitaryan, Bailly and Zlatan to the squad.
The season was inconsistent, but Mourinho won 3 trophies in his United debut season (the only coach to ever do it).
United finished 6th, but won the Europa League.
The season was inconsistent, but Mourinho won 3 trophies in his United debut season (the only coach to ever do it).
United finished 6th, but won the Europa League.
Mourinho, 2017: "In all areas that make a team successful, I think we stopped in time. That was an empty period for the club."
For Mourinho's second season, Lukaku, Matić and Lindelof were signed (and Sanchez in January). Man United were stronger.
Mourinho got a new contract.
For Mourinho's second season, Lukaku, Matić and Lindelof were signed (and Sanchez in January). Man United were stronger.
Mourinho got a new contract.
For the second season in a row, there was clear improvement.
Man United got 80+ Premier League points for the only time after Sir Alex.
With Mourinho, United went unbeaten in 40 home games and went undefeated in 25 straight PL games for the first time.
Man United got 80+ Premier League points for the only time after Sir Alex.
With Mourinho, United went unbeaten in 40 home games and went undefeated in 25 straight PL games for the first time.
By 2018, some problems became evident, but in a big club these problems are easy to fix.
Mourinho wanted to take United back to its level, but he didn't think some players were right for the dimension of the task.
Shaw, Martial, Lingard, Rashford...
Mourinho wanted to take United back to its level, but he didn't think some players were right for the dimension of the task.
Shaw, Martial, Lingard, Rashford...
Mourinho had fallouts with players at other clubs, but he still won. Sir Alex had fallouts with players at United (like Beckham, 2003), but he still won.
The problem is that the current Man United board didn't back the coach, but backed the players.
And that's a big mistake.
The problem is that the current Man United board didn't back the coach, but backed the players.
And that's a big mistake.
"You can't have a player taking over the dressing room. There is only one boss of United: the manager."
- Sir Alex Ferguson
The players were backed ahead of Mourinho, the whole club was being run backwards.
That was the turning point, that's when it all went down the drain.
- Sir Alex Ferguson
The players were backed ahead of Mourinho, the whole club was being run backwards.
That was the turning point, that's when it all went down the drain.
Then, of course, the football heritage speech.
Mourinho comes out to the press conference one day and, for 12 minutes, exposes some of the big flaws at Man United, calling out the board and the ownership.
Mourinho comes out to the press conference one day and, for 12 minutes, exposes some of the big flaws at Man United, calling out the board and the ownership.
Mourinho had already also stated:
"We are not that profile of club where there are no limits. There is only one way to compete [with Manchester City], which is patience and time."
Mourinho put it all out in the open, the problems became clear.
"We are not that profile of club where there are no limits. There is only one way to compete [with Manchester City], which is patience and time."
Mourinho put it all out in the open, the problems became clear.
Then arrived the 2018/19 season, also the most disgusting market in Man United's recent history.
Mourinho saw the arrivals of Fred (who he didn't ask for), Dalot and Lee Grant. That's it.
Here is Mourinho, mocking the ownership publicly... again😂
Mourinho saw the arrivals of Fred (who he didn't ask for), Dalot and Lee Grant. That's it.
Here is Mourinho, mocking the ownership publicly... again😂
The players that Mourinho wanted out... they all stayed.
Mourinho, 2018: "This is not my squad. I would like two more players. I don't think I'm going to have two, possibly only one. I gave my club a list of five names a few months ago."
No one else arrived.
Mourinho, 2018: "This is not my squad. I would like two more players. I don't think I'm going to have two, possibly only one. I gave my club a list of five names a few months ago."
No one else arrived.
The club's structure was satisfied with the top 4 finish in 17/18, so they gave up on improving the team. If things went wrong, Mourinho would be scapegoated.
And things did go wrong in that season, as it would be expected.
United had a terrible start.
And things did go wrong in that season, as it would be expected.
United had a terrible start.
Mourinho doesn't have the team he wants nor the authority he needs, so Man United lose games.
Tensions are high, Mourinho kicks Pogba out of training and snaps in the press after a 3-0 defeat at Spurs.
After a win at Juve, he taunts the whole stadium.
Tensions are high, Mourinho kicks Pogba out of training and snaps in the press after a 3-0 defeat at Spurs.
After a win at Juve, he taunts the whole stadium.
Mourinho keeps on complaining about the squad he was given, he keeps on attacking the structure for the poor job they did, he keeps on talking about the club's lack of ambition.
Unsurprisingly, they didn't like it and sacked him in December.
Unsurprisingly, they didn't like it and sacked him in December.
Mourinho improved Man United from 15/16 to 16/17, and improved them again from 16/17 to 17/18.
When the time came to improve once again and fight for the big titles, he was cut off.
Then, a totally different aproach by Man United: Ole, the nice guy.
It didn't work as well.
When the time came to improve once again and fight for the big titles, he was cut off.
Then, a totally different aproach by Man United: Ole, the nice guy.
It didn't work as well.
3 trophyless years and many humiliating defeats didn't put Ole's job at risk, he was sacked when he couldn't get top 4.
United kept the same recipe: don't bother making the club contenders, don't go for the priority signings, focus on marketing, save money, hope for top 4.
United kept the same recipe: don't bother making the club contenders, don't go for the priority signings, focus on marketing, save money, hope for top 4.
After Mourinho left, Man United got worse.
Ole was sacked after 3 years of 'fighting for top 4'. Then came Ralph Rangnick, who said:
"We need an open heart surgery. That's something that the manager alone can't do."
The project kept on changing, United kept on getting weaker.
Ole was sacked after 3 years of 'fighting for top 4'. Then came Ralph Rangnick, who said:
"We need an open heart surgery. That's something that the manager alone can't do."
The project kept on changing, United kept on getting weaker.
Cristiano: "The owners don't care about the club, they get their money from the marketing."
Alexis Sanchez: "Some things you don't realise until you get there."
Zlatan: "Once I was at United I found a small, closed mentality."
Mourinho even went as far as saying this:
Alexis Sanchez: "Some things you don't realise until you get there."
Zlatan: "Once I was at United I found a small, closed mentality."
Mourinho even went as far as saying this:
Even crazier, this is what Van Gaal said in 2020:
"United did not have the qualities to become champions and had an outdated selection of players over 30. So I told them I was going to rejuvenate and which players should come. I didn't get one of those."
"United did not have the qualities to become champions and had an outdated selection of players over 30. So I told them I was going to rejuvenate and which players should come. I didn't get one of those."
..."Then you have to do with the number seven on your wish list. For which you actually pay too much money. A turnover of 600m£ and can't buy the players you need. Despite that, we won the Cup."
"United has actually been the greatest achievement of my career."
Sound familiar?🤔
"United has actually been the greatest achievement of my career."
Sound familiar?🤔
It's the current Manchester United loop.
10 years, 5 different projects, 5 different approaches, now Ten Hag is another try.
One doesn't get time, the other doesn't get his signings, the other gets his funding cut off.
No ambition, no commitment.
10 years, 5 different projects, 5 different approaches, now Ten Hag is another try.
One doesn't get time, the other doesn't get his signings, the other gets his funding cut off.
No ambition, no commitment.
Mourinho wasn't the first or the last scapegoat.
Ronaldo, Van Gaal, Di Maria, Pogba, Lukaku, De Gea, Bruno, Sancho, Casemiro, and many more still to come.
They are only 'the problem' at Man United, nowhere else.
But they are not, United's real problem are the people in charge.
Ronaldo, Van Gaal, Di Maria, Pogba, Lukaku, De Gea, Bruno, Sancho, Casemiro, and many more still to come.
They are only 'the problem' at Man United, nowhere else.
But they are not, United's real problem are the people in charge.
José Mourinho somehow won, but he couldn't save United. Neither could anyone, it's not in their hands.
In the end, what will matter is the fact that he (like a few others) put Man United's best interests ahead of his own.
Mourinho saw the problem, so he showed it to everyone.
In the end, what will matter is the fact that he (like a few others) put Man United's best interests ahead of his own.
Mourinho saw the problem, so he showed it to everyone.
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