Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho could be set for a squad overhaul according to reports
According to the Daily Mirror, Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho could be set for a major squad overhaul at Old Trafford this summer.
The Mirror claims that the Portuguese boss has already reassured some of the United players that they have a future at the club, but is undecided on the futures of other Red Devils stars.
Seemingly undecided on some
It seems there are players at United whose future is very unclear under Jose Mourinho. Some of them are not surprising though, for example Spanish playmaker Juan Mata.
The Spanish international was sold by Mourinho in his second spell as Chelsea boss, despite having won the Blues Player of the Year in the previous campaign. Mata is considered a luxury player and Mourinho does not seem to have any time for luxury players, just players that buy into his methods.
Other players apparently on his hit list this summer could be Matteo Darmian, Daley Blind, Morgan Schneiderlin, Memphis Depay and Marouane Fellaini.
Darmian is being linked with a move to Chelsea as part of a swap deal for Chelsea’s Serbian defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic, who experienced a disastrous campaign last season at Stamford Bridge.
Italian international Darmian is currently at Euro 2016 under Chelsea bound boss Antonio Conte, who is believed to be a fan of the full-back. Memphis Depay could not have had a worse debut campaign for United and his exit would not be a major shock.
Fellaini’s rather limited technical ability is probably the reason why Mourinho would want rid of the Belgian international, even if he does provide a good physical presence. Fellow midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin was in and out of the United team last season and enjoyed a mixed campaign.
Daley Blind could be one of the harsher victims of a United squad cull by Mourinho. The former-Ajax star produced some very good displays at the heart of the United defence last season and is a highly dependable member of the squad.
However, he is not tall and physically imposing and that is how Mourinho likes his centre-backs, hence the signing of centre-back Eric Bailly from Villarreal for £30million. The relative youngster fits into the mould of what the Portuguese boss prefers in his centre-backs.
Building a more physically dominating team
Mourinho is a boss that likes his team to be physically dominant and strong. If they cannot play football at least they can put their foot in when the going gets tough in more difficult matches.
One of the turning points of his second spell at Chelsea was the signing of the aforementioned Nemanja Matic. The Serbia added steel to Chelsea midfield and was outstanding for Mourinho, until for some reason his form fell off the end of a cliff in the last few months of Mourinho’s time at Chelsea.
It seems that despite those abject performances towards the end Mourinho’s tenure at Stamford Bridge, the Portuguese boss wants to be reunited with the Serbian international at Old Trafford.
The central midfielders at United, the likes of Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Michael Carrick are not ball-winning midfielders, well not in the tough-tackling way that Matic is when he is on form. Marouane Fellaini seems to spend more time elbowing people than winning the ball.
You get the impression that Mourinho believes his current squad are slightly soft and that he needs to sign players to make his team tougher.
United fans need to be patient with Mourinho
Manchester United were immediately installed as one of the favourites to win the Premier League title at odds of 4/1 when Mourinho’s appointment was confirmed. However his appointment does not necessarily mean that the Red Devils will be instantly successful.
The Portuguese boss failed to deliver the Premier League title in the first season of his second spell, but built for the next campaign and won the title in his second season.
No doubt Mourinho is a great tactician and one of the best modern day bosses. Like any manager he will need time to get things right. If United fans give the Portuguese boss time then I have no doubt he will get it right at Old Trafford.
Will Jose Mourinho overhaul his Manchester United squad this summer?
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