Jose Mourinho needs to take responsibility at United

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has a habit of trying to deflect blame from himself when things do not go his teams way. He has blamed everybody from the tea lady to the kit man in the past.

Manchester United drew 0-0 against Southampton at Old Trafford on Saturday evening, having produced a rather lacklustre display. The game saw the Red Devils record their third consecutive draw in the top-flight.

Chelsea’s 5-0 victory over Stoke early in the day means that Jose Mourinho’s side are now third in the table. Any more slip-ups and they could be in a battle for a top-four spot, never mind the title.

Manchester City exceptional this season

In all honesty, it would not be a major disgrace for United not to win the Premier League title this season. Manchester City may have just drawn at Crystal Palace 0-0, but they have been exceptional and will likely win the league at a canter.

It will hurt United fans to say, but they will know that the Citizens are miles ahead of the Red Devils. City are 15 points clear of Mourinho’s side at the top of the table and the gap is just too big to bridge.

In any other season, United probably would be right in the thick of the title clash. However, this is not just any season. This season has seen Manchester City win 19 of their opening 21 games and remain unbeaten. That is a big achievement.

Mourinho’s ego is taking a hit this season

The reason why Jose Mourinho likes to blame everybody but himself for his team’s struggles is that he has a massive ego. He is the sort of guy that cannot accept somebody being better than him, even when it is blatantly obvious.

Mourinho has been a top boss in the past. However, the cracks have shown in his management style in recent years.

The likes of Chelsea’s Antonio Conte and Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp have been quite gracious about Manchester City this season. Mourinho, on the other hand, claims they are only successful due to spending big on player recruitment.

That is a strange argument when United have spent nearly as much money as their neighbours.

The Portuguese boss does not consider that boss Pep Guardiola may have helped develop the likes of Fabian Delph, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane or even Kevin De Bruyne.

Mourinho is not renowned for developing players. In fact, he has a reputation, rightly or wrongly for not using younger players. Mourinho can use all the excuses in the world.

For one reason or another, Manchester United are not producing good enough performances or results. It is not Doris the tea ladies fault or Arthur the kit man’s fault either. He has to take some of the responsibility for the team’s displays.

Mourinho has signed many of the players in the team and he picks the team. He is also the man responsible for motivating the players.

A potential banana skin at Everton

Manchester United could do without a trip to Everton on New Year’s Day. For much of the Premier League era, the Toffees have been obliging hosts for the Red Devils.

However, despite their recent defeat at Bournemouth, Everton are a hard team to break down under Sam Allardyce. United have won just once on their last four visits to Goodison Park, but are favourites at 3/ 4 to win on Merseyside on Monday evening.

Without strikers Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic that could be a difficult task for United. The Toffees have kept three clean sheets in their last four home games in the Premier League at Goodison Park.

Considering that the Red Devils have failed to beat the likes of Leicester, Burnley and Southampton in recent weeks, a game against Everton is unlikely to be a comfortable one.

Jose Mourinho can blame who he likes for his team’s poor displays and results of late and he does. However, that does not improve his team’s fortunes on the pitch.

Manchester United started the season as one of the favourites to win the Premier League title. However, another slip-up at Goodison could see fourth place Liverpool move level with the Red Devils, which was unthinkable a few weeks ago.

Mourinho is an experienced boss and cannot change his personality. However, with every post-match interview blaming an outside force for his team’s ineptitude, the Portuguese boss loses the respect of the football world.

Should Jose Mourinho take the blame for United’s dip in form?