Manchester United are entering a new era under Jose Mourinho. The first priority for the Special One will be sorting out an inexperienced back line.
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INS: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (free), Eric Bailly (£30 million, Villarreal), Henrikh Mkhitaryan (£26.3 million, Borussia Dortmund)
OUTS: Victor Valdes (free, Middlesbrough), Nick Powell (free, Wigan), Tyler Reid (undisclosed, Swansea), Oliver Rathbone (free, Rochdale), Joe Rothwell (free, Oxford), George Dorrington (free, Huddersfield), Ashley Fletcher (free, West Ham), Guillermo Varela (loan, Eintracht Frankfurt)
THE STORY: In what is perhaps the most anticipated Premier League season in history, the city that has so often been the epicenter of English soccer will once again take center stage. The two Manchester clubs are both ready to make new beginnings, new beginnings that bring old foes together.
Pep Guardiola’s move to Manchester City was confirmed all the way back in February, but his counterpart at Old Trafford was unveiled much more recently. Jose Mourinho, Guardiola’s biggest rival during his time in Spain, is now the Manchester United manager, and the rivalry between the two will surely dominate the headlines for much of the coming season.
Mourinho is a divisive figure. He has never been at a club for more than a few seasons, he does not seem particularly interested in the development of young players and has a notoriously hard-nosed approach which often sees him fall out with his coaching staff and players.
He is also one of the greatest coaches in history, and has brought success to every club he’s managed. He has won multiple Champions Leagues, multiple Premier League titles (in two different stints with Chelsea) and won an incredible treble with an Internazionale side that did not have the quality to warrant such success.
Mourinho has already brought in Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Eric Bailly, and is looking to add more players to his squad, including Paul Pogba for a potentially world record fee. It is the classic Mourinho formula: spend big, win big, leave. He has already succeeded with the first part, but there is much work to be done.
After the disastrous Louis Van Gaal reign, Mourinho is inheriting a squad full of under-performing players, many of whom have yet to prove they belong at such an illustrious club. Can Mourinho galvanize players like Wayne Rooney, Morgan Schneiderlin and Antonio Valencia?
There is a particular lack of talent at the back. Van Gaal was happy to play Daley Blind alongside Chris Smalling at center-back. It is unlikely Mourinho, who prioritizes strong and structured defending, will utilize Blind in the same way, and a center-back pairing of new signing Eric Bailly and Smalling would not have the experience Mourinho has typically favored. Mourinho’s attempt to build a defensively sound team with subpar and/or inexperienced players will be fascinating to watch, and it could well be the defining aspect of his tenure.
A team with Mkhitaryan, Ibrahimovic, Rooney and Anthony Martial will always have goals in them. There is simply too much attacking talent there for most sides to handle. Defensively, however, things are a little less clearcut. United had to rely on their system as a whole last year — that is why Van Gaal employed such a dull and slow-paced possession game — and once again this season, Mourinho will have to build a defense that adds up to more than the sum of its parts. The fans will just be hoping the whole is more exciting than it was under Van Gaal.
United are arguably the biggest unknown in this season’s Premier League, and watching Mourinho at work will be truly fascinating. All things considered, this might be his biggest challenge yet.
KEY PLAYER: Smalling is not perhaps the obvious choice here. However, in a team that boasts Rooney, Ibrahimovic and Mkhitaryan, goals should not be difficult to come by. They could, though, be difficult to stop at the other end if Smalling fails to successfully marshal what looks like it will be a very inexperienced back four.
As things stand, United’s defense will likely consist of an injury prone Luke Shaw, a young and relatively unknown Eric Bailly, Antonio Valencia, a 30-year-old who would rather spend his time in the opposition box than actually defending, and Smalling, who becomes by default United’s leader at the back. That is a worrying development for United.
David de Gea is an outstanding goalkeeper and Mourinho will employ a midfield system that will shield the defense, but the back four itself has a lot to prove. Much of United’s defensive success rests on the shoulders of Smalling. That is quite the responsibility.
MANAGER: Mourinho will be the main man at United as he has been at all of his previous clubs, the centerpiece of the team, the headline-grabbing leader who dominates the headlines after defeats and victories alike.
Some love him, some hate him, some love to hate him. What cannot be doubted is that Mourinho is a winner, and as always, the over-hyped pantomime he brings with him will last only for as long as he is successful. It remains to be seen what his specific tactical plans are for this team, but it is clear he will once again rely on his ability to spend big in the transfer market.
United have already flexed their financial muscle this summer, but the big remaining question is if they can finalize a deal for Pogba, who could become the first ever £100 million player. Mourinho appears to be building a squad capable of winning the league. Only time will tell if he can once again end the year on top.
Next: Premier League season preview: Leicester
BEST CASE: Paul Pogba comes in, Zlatan proves he’s not over the hill and Mourinho inspires his new team to another dominant league victory, including a double over their noisy neighbors.
WORST CASE: Mourinho plays his mind games, but is unable to sure up a poor defense. He alienates the fans, sells all the promising young players and is sacked with the team out of the European places.
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