Ghost of Mourinho’s past
“Again..please don’t call me arrogant, because what I am saying is true. I am European champion, so I am not one of the..bottle. I am a spec- I think I am a special one.”
Perhaps one of the most famous quotes in football history. Jose Mourinho, European champion, was alluding to his success with Porto upon his arrival in England. Two Primeira Liga, a Uefa Cup, and a Champions League trophy slightly backed up Mourinho’s words.
Two years on from that press conference, Mourinho had won the Premier League twice with Chelsea along with a single League Cup. Two Serie A titles, and another Champions League trophy with Inter followed. It was in 2010 after his second European success that his football demise had begun.
Despite domestic and European titles with Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United, Mourinho’s flaws were overtaking his footballing excellence. Dressing room issues, constantly criticizing the players, publicly commenting on transfers, mentioning his past glories. The list could go on and on and on. He felt like a psychological bomb waiting to detonate.
Mourinho was no longer ‘el puto jefe’ as Pep Guardiola dubbed him before the 2010–11 Champions League semi final. Footballing wise, his ideas were past its expiry date. The game had changed significantly, and his attempts to cope with it were minimal.
“I cannot be too critical because, if I was in this position, I don’t know if I would do the same. But at the same time this is not Premier League. This is not the best league in the world. This is football from the 19th century.” exclaimed Mourinho after Sam Allardyce set up West Ham United to nick a 0–0 draw at Stamford Bridge in 2014. Five years on it was Mourinho’s football that envisaged football from a historic period.
The last straw for Mourinho at Manchester United was the loss at Anfield. His decision to switch permanently to a back four at half time by bringing on Marouane Fellaini instead of Diogo Dalot backfired. Dalot contained Andy Robertson in the first half, and bringing him off gave Robertson the freedom to move forward as Jesse Lingard didn’t track him. Liverpool threatened from the left side and scored their second from that side.
Mourinho’s time was due and his replacement was a familiar face at Carrington, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The sheer positivity upon his arrival elevated the United players. Shackled by his predecessor, they were finally free. United went on an unbeaten run which came to an end last Tuesday against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Marcus Rashford owned the channels as Pogba’s goal streak continued. The Frenchman has been directly involved in 15 goals since Solskjaer took over. Currently sitting at fourth in the league, United managed to surpass Chelsea in the 5th round of the F. A Cup. Their first win at Stamford Bridge since the 3–2 win in 2012 which coincided with their last league title managed by Sir Alex Ferguson.
Skepticism clouded the Solskjaer effect after an easy run in, and it was said that it’s the big games that should be the decider — A bit early to drive any conclusions. Wins away to Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea were only hindered by a loss against a technically and tactically superior Paris Saint-Germain side.
Ethereal positioning and footwork from David de Gea secured United’s win at Wembley against Spurs. But it was the first half ideas that gave them the lead initially. Solskjaer playing an unorthodox 4–3–3 started Lingard centrally as Rashford darted in from the right side. The only goal in the game eventually coming as Rashford positioned himself in the channel between Ben Davies and Jan Vertonghen then flashing past the latter to score.
Solskjaer continued with the same system against Arsenal, but with a change in personnel. Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku instead of Rashford and Anthony Martial. The movements were also reversed rather than the duo moving inside, they attacked the space behind Arsenal’s full backs. Predominantly the space behind Saed Kolasinac where United created two of their goals to knock out Arsenal out of the F. A Cup
The movements of the forwards whether inside to attack the center backs, or outside to attack the space behind the full backs was reminiscent of Mourinho’s Porto. Derlei and Carlos Alberto occupied the same role when Mourinho played in a 4–3–1–2 system. Another similarity to this Porto side was how the midfielders Maniche and Pedro Mendes supported the full backs by doubling up or protecting the channels.
Ander Herrera plays an identical role on the right side. Regularly dropping into the channel to support Ashley Young or doubling with him against the opponent as he did in the game against Arsenal to nullify Kolasinac’s runs. Herrera’s most impressive performance this season came yesterday against Chelsea. Firstly he dropped regularly into the right channel to either support Young from Eden Hazard’s shifts inside. Or to cover the space behind Young when the full back was dragged out wide. However, his contributions didn’t stop here. The Spaniard had the freedom of running late into the box as Solskjaer stated after the game. Two midfield runs gave United the lead as Herrera and Pogba wrote their names on the score-sheet. Midfield runs which were part of Mourinho’s offensive setup at Chelsea. Mainly from Frank Lampard whose runs into the box ensured that he scored in double digits every season.
After all Mourinho was right, he was the special one. In the years from 2002 till 2010 he was ‘el puto jefe’. Things change however. Solskjaer is now at the wheel, and his tweaks are turning United into the effective side that they once were. Effectiveness that Mourinho’s opponents loathed in the first decade of this millennium. Ironically, after Mourinho’s departure United are playing the type of football that a younger version of himself would have been proud of.
