Manchester United and Jose Mourinho will look to reignite their season when they face a struggling Burnley side on Sunday evening, latter still on course for Europa League adventure.
These are testing times for both Manchester United and Jose Mourinho. United have lost two of their opening three fixtures in the Premier League for the first time since 1992. The 0-3 loss against Tottenham Hotspur at home on Monday, which was Mourinho’s heaviest ever home defeat.
It looks as though things are unravelling at Old Trafford, right in time for those who predicted a third-season meltdown for the Portuguese.
Are Jose Mourinho's days numbered at Manchester United 🤔 pic.twitter.com/RZwZqvWau2
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) August 30, 2018
Whatever happens between now and next summer there is still a job to do and still objectives to achieve. United have got to stay on track in the Premier League and navigate through the Champions League group stages.
Here are some ways Mourinho can alleviate the stress around United over the next few weeks…
Have a fixed system
Mourinho in his Manchester United tenure has used almost each and every formation, right from 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-2, 3-4-2-1, 3-5-2, 4-3-3 etc. Sometimes these changes have yielded results and sometimes they haven’t. But compared to that, his Chelsea side has always been consistent with the formation 4-2-3-1 which has resulted in few league titles.
So, the first thing to improve on for Jose Mourinho should be to have a fixed system and formation and work within the same formation. That’s how the players will know their roles and when they get used to it, they can thrive on it.
Goals Goals Goals – Get His Team To Score More Goals
Though United finished 2nd against the odds last season, they scored the least amount of goals amongst the top 6 with just 68, not even two goals per game. This season with Sanchez back to fit and sharp, and Lukaku, Lingard and Pogba are back from great world cup performances, United should be expected to score more this season.
Is Mourinho’s Third Season Syndrome About To Strike Once More?
The responsibility lies with Mourinho to get the most out of attacking unit, which he hasn’t done till now. Even this season, they have scored only 4 goals from 3 games, out of which, 2 goals were from Pogba’s penalties.
Pick a partnership at the back
Since Mourinho was installed at Old Trafford, Manchester United have made more changes to their starting XI than any other team, 235. While managers these days very often pick a system based on the opposition, players need continuity and certainty. It doesn’t help when players like Martial and Eric Bailly are starting one week and nowhere to be seen the next.
Mourinho needs to establish a core of seven or eight ‘undroppables’ and ensure that they are comfortable in what they are doing and that’s how Guardiola won the league last season. It is no secret that Mourinho wanted a senior centre-back in the summer but was denied one by Ed Woodward.
So, now he’s got to establish what’s best for the team going forward based on the personnel he’s got available. The chopping and changing is not going to be helping anyone. The four senior centre-backs must realise that they are only one mistake away from being dropped again.
So, these are some of the things which Mourinho has to improve in coming weeks if he wants his future at Manchester United next season.
Follow Arsedevils for latest football updates on Arsenal and Manchester United.
