José Mourinho is making his debut as a Sky Sports pundit and he’s analysis thus far has been very good, although he does drop a line in one quote about what would make United’s season a success that made us think a little.
This time last year, Mourinho had a dire demeanour and it gave none of his players any confidence. Misery Guts was rightly annoyed by Ed Woodward’s incompetence and it’s no surprise that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer didn’t receive adequate backing this summer.
Mourinho stated early on in the show that this marks his first time back at Old Trafford since his sacking in 2018 and his facial expression gave the impression that he feels let down by how everything happened.
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He says winning the Europa League and securing a top four finish would be a successful season for the Red Devils.
“As a start you need Europa League,” Mourinho said on Sky Sports, as per Manchester Evening News. “When you go to a competition that doesn’t belong to you, you have to win.
“Then in the Premier League, obviously the dressing room must feel unified. If they don’t feel it they are in trouble. If they finish in the top four it is a good season.”
Mourinho : "Saison réussie ? Gagner l'Europa League. Un club de cette dimension avec ce potentiel et cette histoire quand vous commencez une compétition que vous ne devriez pas jouer et qui ne fait pas partie de votre histoire, vous devez gagner." #MUFCpic.twitter.com/TnuXWjjkV6
— Manchester United (@MUnitedFR) August 11, 2019
Perhaps some emphasis should be put on the dressing room feeling unified because it was anything but when he was in charge. It’s early days but the squad looks lot more together under Solskjaer but we know how quick results can change that, which is probably what Mourinho is getting at…
Mourinho won the Europa League and League Cup during his first season at the club, but winning the former is probably United’s best chance at qualifying for the Champions League.
The aim this season must be to get back in the Europe’s biggest competition — it doesn’t matter if it’s achieved by winning the Europa or finishing in the top four. We should be achieving one of those at the very least.
