Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat against Watford on Sunday was Jose Mourinho’s 3rd defeat in a row within a week and highlighted the massive problems the Portuguese coaches faces as he plans to rebuild the mentality and style Louis Van Gaal was commonly criticised for last season as United finished in a disappointing 5th place. If anybody thought Mourinho and his side would be happy sailing after the first three wins against Bournemouth, Southampton and Hull they were wrong as the defeats to Manchester City, Feyenoord and Watford have proved United are nowhere near reaching the levels attained under the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Manchester United slipped six points under Guardiola’s Manchester City, concluding a week to forget for Jose Mourinho. It’s the first time since 2002 that Mourinho had endured three competitive defeats in a row. Next up is a tricky home tie against champions Leicester. On evidence of United’s performances in the past week, there are doubts that they might not get the results they so desperately desire against last seasons surprise winners. Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini claimed United are going through a “little crisis”; Fellaini played the full 90 minutes against Watford as goals from Etienne Capoue, Juan Zuniga and Troy Deeney consigned the Red Devils to a disappointing defeat.
The Belgium International told French Broadcaster SFR of the impact of Sunday’s defeat:
“It’s a little crisis you could say, because Manchester United cannot lose 3 games. But we have to lift our heads. It’s still early, its the start of the season still. We haven’t even played 10 games yet, but we absolutely have to win.”
Hopes were high and exciting for Jose Mourinho following his arrival at Old Trafford, but as Match of the Day host Gary Lineker jokingly acknowledged; matters again look bleak for Mourinho’s men:
“Manchester United lose 3 games in a week. I’m not sure even Louis Van Gaal managed that achievement.”
Sunday’s defeat highlighted a number of cracks in the clubs latest marriage. It was a match made in Heaven. Manchester United had desperately searched for the perfect partner in three years after their prolonged union with Sir Alex Ferguson ended in 2013. The ring never fitted with David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal, but Jose Mourinho is believed to be the perfect match. This summer finally saw the Portuguese coach wed with the club he had desired for over a decade. Marcus Rashford was the page boy, Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were the lavish gifts bestowed upon Mourinho and the club for their partnership. Victory against Leicester in the Community Shield at Wembley at the start of the season consummated the marriage followed by impressive victories in their first three games of the season, but already the cracks are showing.
Against Watford, United were lethargic, bereft of confidence and a team that is in dire need of a change in system. In previous games this season so far, United’s deficiencies have been down to the uncertainty in Paul Pogba for the defensive midfield role he is trying to adapt to, the inability of Wayne Rooney to play in the No.10 position and the ineptitude in the heart of the United defence must be clearly down to the system Mourinho is trying to use. It is clear, the 4-2-3-1 formation isn’t working for United. Looking across Manchester at Guardiola’s system, he accentuates a formational plan that brings the best out of his players. Fernandinho is a man reborn in that new position just in front of the defence, Fernandinho’s role is similar to Sergio Busquets at Barcelona who was the main cog in Guardiola’s tiki-taka style when he coached the Spanish club and it seems as if he is deploying the same style at the Etihad but in a more disciplined and stable system. Busquets or Fernandinho in this instance facilitates the Anchor Role, a role that stabilizes and protects the defence, also it allows Ilkay Gundogan or David Silva and Kevin Bruyne the freedom to move about the midfield and flaunt their ability.
A simple and fluid 4-1-4-1 come 4-3-3 formation is clearly working for Guardiola so why can’t Jose Mourinho take a leaf out of the Spaniard’s book and deploy the same style at United? If we take a look at United’s best possible set up in this formation used by Guardiola:
This system above is the formation Jose Mourinho should be considering for his players going forward, the 4-2-3-1 formation being deployed is not working. In the picture below, we see the congestion between Pogba, Rooney and Ibrahimovic when the formation is being deployed, Pogba is not given the freedom to roam as he did with Juventus but rather he is limited to just a holding role and when he does go forward that leaves Marouane Fellaini by himself to cover. However, the system above would give Pogba the license to work in behind Ibrahimovic knowing that behind him, Schneiderlin/Carrick are covering and protecting the back line when he goes forward, that can be said for Ander Herrera too who over the past two seasons has really impressed when called upon. The ability and style of the Spaniard is one Mourinho cannot ignore; when deployed in a 4-1-4-1 formation as shown above, Herrera could form and impressive partnership with Pogba and with Mata on the right wing in a similar system the last time United won at Anfield in March 2015, Herrera worked a perfect combination with his fellow Spaniard and it was his pass that led to Mata’s goal with an eye of the needle pass that carved open the Liverpool back line. It is a similar style and system that Mourinho should deploy, especially in the big games.
Against Watford, for both the 1st and the 2nd goals scored by Capoue and Juan Zuniga, Pogba and Fellaini were nowhere to be found at the edge of the box which allowed both goal scorers so much space and time to pick their chances as seen below:
The poor positional discipline of both Pogba and Fellaini allowed Watford the confidence and the license to control the game as both Capoue and new signing Roberto Perreya picked off the gaps left by Pogba to exploit. However, if Mourinho deploys Schneiderlin or Michael Carrick in that ‘Anchor Role’ talked about previously, these gaps would not have been left vacated as Schneiderlin/Carrick would have been asked to cover the defensive line which would allow Ander Herrera or Pogba the freedom to play their usual game on the front foot. The style and “philosophy” as former coach Louis Van Gaal placed much emphasis on is still languishing around the environment at Old Trafford, and Mourinho would need to change the slow and boring mentality quick if he wants to revive the glory days at Old Trafford and the fast paced counter attacking, free flowing football that Sir Alex Ferguson so impressively mastered in his time at the club .
Danny Higginbottom, Sun Sports Column Analyst and former Manchester United, Stoke and Sheffield United defender discusses:
“If you play 4-2-3-1 – then either your fastest or slowest attacking player has to be the centre forward. If its the fastest player, that would be Marcus Rashford or Anthony Martial in the attacking four. They would be used to run in behind and stretch the game, to create space in behind. With the slowest player, Rooney or Ibrahimovic – neither have the pace of other attackers – would drop off creating a vacuum behind them for the quicker players to attack into.”
It’s very difficult to play the system if you have a centre forward in Zlatan who drops off and a No.10 in Rooney who doesn’t have the will to run in behind. It’s even tougher if Pogba tries to come into that same area trying to make space for himself – it becomes so congested in that area which then limits the movement and freedom. You end up with three of United’s main players ‘pretty much holding hands’. United’s opponents are happy to see them bunched up because it creates space in behind for them to exploit and run at the fragile defence because of the lack of the protection or the ‘Anchor Man’ as talked about earlier. If Mourinho is to exploit the 4-2-3-1 then Mkhitaryan would represent a better option at No.10, the Armenian would take the risks and pull the defence one way to create space for Zlatan Ibrahimovic – but that would mean at the expense of captain Wayne Rooney.
It is clear Rooney is not in the best of form, and that is affecting the rest of the team, after all, he is the captain and an example for the rest of the squad. The England record goalscorer has found the net just twice in his last 17 games and failed to register a shot on target at Vicarage Road. Former Liverpool defender Phil Babb says Wayne Rooney needs to improve his performances this season.
“If you’re reading the stats, and I know that Jose Mourinho does, you would argue – what is he doing?”, said Babb. “Is he effective? Even though he has the armband on is he really driving this team?
“You could argue that he isn’t but we know that Rooney is a class player. In a week where nobody in the side is firing, he – obviously with his high profile – will get a lot of the flack being the skipper.”
Yes, Rooney is a class player and there is no doubting his ability, he has been a shining light for the club over the years, a true legend, but right at this moment in time his form is a real concern for Mourinho, so what does he do next? Does he keep Rooney in the line-up and run risk of dropping more vital points as rivals City keep on impressing? Does he change Rooney’s role or does he drop him completely from the starting XI? A high percentage of United fans will agree with the latter, and question will arise as to whether Mourinho could show the ruthlessness that Van Gaal and Moyes lacked, a ruthless streak that makes Mourinho the winner he is.
The Portuguese coach has to change the mindset of the players and the tactical system – a system that would get the best out of his squad – as the last few games have showed, the formational plan at Old Trafford is not working, a plan that has been tried over the past two or three years at the club. The United fans are desperately waiting for the glory days to return, and the marriage between Mourinho and United has got off to a topsy-turvy start, but to avoid yet another managerial divorce, Mourinho must revert the style he is so adept to and adapt to a new system, a system that elevates Paul Pogba to his former self and brings the best out of captain Wayne Rooney.
Mourinho is a proven winner and he is going to get it right at Old Trafford, the Manchester United hierarchy wouldn’t have partnered with the Portuguese if they didn’t believe in him. Jose Mourinho, however does have a tough job on his hands and that goes without saying. The glory days will return at Old Trafford under Mourinho – a job he has so truly desired since his days at Real Madrid – its not a matter of if, but when.
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