Mourinho's post match comments

[Minimalist]

I don't think Mourinho is blameless at all but you do realize that what you're saying means players are always gonna escape blame ?

Don't play well, it's on the manager, not showing good mentality, the manager didn't prepare them well, player playing bad, because manager played him out of position.

I'm just curious, at which part can we blame the players for ? Because you can direct everything for the manager and job done!

Again I'm not saying Mourinho is blameless but players aren't free of the blame as well.

And what if it's Mourinho at fault?

I mean there's always a possibility that the players aren't pulling their weight for the manager. Every managerial sacking has that possibility.

And yet other clubs typically play the odds. Those odds being that if a large group of players are fed up with the methods/management, it's probably best to try another approach rather than ship a load of players out.

 

[Fooza]

I'm not in the 'Player's need a good kick up the backside so Mourinho is right to publicly criticise' camp

Keep all the criticism in house, if he really thinks certain players don't have the mentality - just get rid in the summer. He sounds like manager who wants to know who the board will choose, the players or him.

Has a manager ever won if he ends up making enemies with most of the players, especially the highest bought/profile players?

Also - I'm not really sure why a few players like Shaw always get the wrong side of him. I personally didn't think he warranted those comments today.

 

[redIndianDevil]

I don't think he gave them the instructions to hide from the ball or squander simple passes.

He doesn't give them instructions to how to play quick passing football either.

 

[matherto]

He's an absolute fanny. His ego is so big, it's got its own postcode. It's all about him. It must be like needles in his eyes that this club is bigger than him. He hates any suggestion that his style isnt equipped to how this club is ran.

Didn't work at Real, won't work here either sadly.

Inter are a big club but they're not A.C. nor Juve in world terms and that was the last time things really worked for him.

Chelsea were a tiny club that he could mould in his own image and we saw what happened when he went back now they're a much bigger deal.

Porto are obviously a big club in Portugal but not in world terms either.

He's not cut out for the true giants.

 

[Ban]

And what if it's Mourinho at fault?

I mean there's always a possibility that the players aren't pulling their weight for the manager. Every managerial sacking has that possibility.

So lets say we sack him. Hopefully after a 6, 7th manager after Fergie players will pull their weight for him.

 

[Bruno Marques]

What exactly do you think a manager's job is.

Don't try to target me directly because the one here that maybe don't understand "soccer" isn't me.

Some times players dont really want to be players. Some times they get lost on all the money and the good life and they just don't care ti push themselves to a level of player that united needs. They will keep playing but at lower levels. I think time is passing trough some of them and it's time to let them go

 

[Keeps It tidy]

I don't think he gave them the instructions to hide from the ball or squander simple passes.

To put it simply as possible if the players play well he gets credit if they do not that is on him. That is how this whole Football management thing works.

 

[SirAF]

Really? Do you think our players are so stupid that they can't move to get open for a pass? That someone has to explain it to them? Remember, these are players that are starting for Man Utd in the PL and presumably played somewhere for someone before.

Baffling, isn’t it. These players are at such a high level that they should almost be able to play without a manager’s instructions ffs.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

So lets say we sack him. Hopefully after a 6, 7th manager after Fergie players will pull their weight for him.

Their has been a huge amount of player since Ferguson. Very Ferguson players are left.

 

[Prodigy24]

Whatever that was, it's been a very embarrassing week for the club and we've become the laughing stock in football. Hope this was the end of his rants for now so that we can continue on.

 

[RedStarUnited]

Since Fergie, Moyes tried the job and lost. LVG with his great resume , tried to bring success and lost. Mourinho, having managed some of the biggest clubs in the world is trying and its not clicking. If these many managers couldn't do it, what is the guarantee the next one would? At what point do we start looking past the managers into the players? There's something fundamentally wrong with our club.

Who signed and picked the players today?

He wanted fast build ups but played Smalling at the back?

He is always in praise of Matic but for me he has been poor in his actual team functions for a while now. He hogs the ball and takes the longest time to move it on. We have not for a any period this year played consistently great football. Even when we were winning 4-0s.

He clearly loves Mata because he allows him to go and do whatever he wants on the pitch. Even though Mata hardly ever plays a defence splitting pass nor is he great when pressed. Mata plays like Messi in this team, its unbelievable. Shaw plays well, goes on the bench when Young is ready. Shaw plays bad, goes on the bench for Young. He doesnt fancy him and Shaw knows.

Jose refuses to get the team to press from the front which results in every single team we play basically walking into our half when they want to. You have to ask if he is even playing to his teams strengths.

He is taking the easy route and blaming the players. Eventually he will lose them and we will probably have a stinker of a season cos of it. If Woodward was a football man he would anticipate this and sack him this summer. Bayern pulled the plug on Ancelloti nice and early and turned their fortunes around.

 

[steffyr2]

To put it simply as possible if the players play well he gets credit if they do not that is on him. That is how this whole Football management thing works.

Not really. If the players play well, they get the credit. If they don't play well, they get the blame. Mourinho is putting on a side show trying to take the spotlight off the players while he gets them into some sort of winning shape. You didn't think they were playing well before, right?

 

[BusbyMalone]

There have been issues with complacency, and technical ability, for years. Now we have an issue with players sulking if they aren't selected yet underwhelming when they are chosen.

Martial fits this perfectly. A player with incredible potential but an uncanny ability to ghost through an entire game. Most frustrating player in the squad by some distance.

 

[Tincanalley]

He was better off keep his mouth shut. Some problems about motivation for the FA cup on a snowy freezing night against BHA yeah, I know is just a teeny bit understandable for the players. Out of the CL. Just scraped past an ordinary side tonight, when he wanted a big rebound. The mood can't be great. I have a feeling there was a dressing room row. Looks like Mata said the wrong thing. So did Pogba, maybe Sanchez. My take on it is, yes he has a point about ... well some players anyway. But part of it is the manager, as well. Different code but I can't help but think of Schmidt with Ireland rugby. Low key, self-effacing. Mind you, no need to panic yet. This can come very good indeed. But in a way that last game laid Jose's fear, Jose's anxiety, bare. Sorry to repeat myself; but if he had gone the Sevilla game is just another game (not so important, so crucial) he might have given off a more confident vibe to the players. Lets hope he and the team sort this out, its a big challenge to all concerned.

 

[Ban]

Their has been a huge amount of player since Ferguson. Very Ferguson players are left.

That's not the point. Point is we can't let players decide if they'll play or give up. I mean, we can, and chop managers every few years.
I'm not saying it's the case at United now. I know many people wish he lost the dressing room already though.

 

[JPRouve]

To put it simply as possible if the players play well he gets credit if they do not that is on him. That is how this whole Football management thing works.

But in reality it's more nuanced, in general the faults have to be shared and the players with the worst attitude, the least coachable have to be sacked too.

 

[redIndianDevil]

Really? Do you think our players are so stupid that they can't move to get open for a pass? That someone has to explain it to them? Remember, these are players that are starting for Man Utd in the PL and presumably played somewhere for someone before.

Every pub team players know you have to move away from your marker to receive a pass, that is where our team is at right now, but at the highest level when you have to open up compact, well drilled, defensive units you need a manager who coaches patterns, quick movement and one touch passes to open those teams(or you can put in a million crosses into the box and hope you forward nods one in), that is where the coaches come into play at that level. That is what we are lacking.

 

[izec]

Baffling, isn’t it. These players are at such a high level that they should almost be able to play without a manager’s instructions ffs.

They may be at a high level athletic wise or skill wise, not mentally or IQ wise though. I think we have a bunch of players who need exact patterns of play, A to B, B to C etc.. but then again, that didnt work either under van Gaal, there it was too robotic. I frankly dont get whats the issue here.

 

[spiriticon]

Lukaku and matic are the only ones off of the top of my head who have considerably improved in desire since then.

Do we lack a leader?

Yes I think so.

I'm not Mourinho's biggest fan but I absolutely back his post match comments 100% tonight.

Some of our players have the mental fortitude of a wet tissue and that is a big contributing factor as to why we are so shit these days.

 

[Santoryo]

He is in a much stronger position here. The players don't have the same leverage. What he is doing is necessary. Nothing changes if he comes out and says "a win is a win, I'm happy". A win is a win until it's not and then the cycle begins anew.

This post is quite naive. I know people on these boards love having this perception where Man United would rather stick with its boss rather than literally any player and all that bravado but the truth isn't quite that.

Half the players turning on Mourinho and the boards will be forced to let him go whether they want it or not. It would very costly losing important key players both on the pitch and market wise just because Mourinho has gone on a private war with them.

Just the thought of replacing then alone would give the board a heart attack. Reality is in cases where it's players vs manager, the latter usually goes. It might be hard for some but that's the cold hard truth.

 

[golden_blunder]

Matic must be thinking aww feck not again

 

[steffyr2]

Baffling, isn’t it. These players are at such a high level that they should almost be able to play without a manager’s instructions ffs.

They should be able to connect a pass when playing Brighton, yes, I agree. They should be able to beat a Brighton player to a loose ball occasionally, didn't happen today. They should be able to find that open player who's been standing there open for 30 seconds. Really really really simple stuff.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

I find it strange how, the moment people start questioning his style of play, he makes a point of saying he's been working on it, but the players are not carrying it out on the pitch.

Question should be, why is it not working? You've had these set of players for two seasons now. In that time, I hate comparing, but Pep, Klopp, Pochettino and even Conte have been able to implement a certain style. I just don't see that with United at the moment, and to me, that's all down to the manager.

 

[Livvie]

It's the players who play consistently badly who need to be motivated - Luke Shaw is a prime example of a player who was not playing at all badly but gets crucified after 45 minutes.

 

[JPRouve]

They may be at a high level athletic wise or skill wise, not mentally or IQ wise though. I think we have a bunch of players who need exact patterns of play, A to B, B to C etc.. but then again, that didnt work either under van Gaal, there it was too robotic. I frankly dont get whats the issue here.

It wasn't the same players under Van Gaal, Mourinho injected a fair bit of quality.

 

[Minimalist]

So lets say we sack him. Hopefully after a 6, 7th manager after Fergie players will pull their weight for him.

Or instead of thinking this is some continual neverending cycle, we admit that Mourinho was always a gamble in this regard?

I mean didn't he alienate his Madrid dressing room? He got sacked at Chelsea for a second time for losing the dressing room too didn't he?

That's his most recent history until he came to United. Sorry, you do remember that right?

It would be completely disingenuous to suggest that we've hired a manager that is known for getting along with his players. Van Gaal was known for it (not as much to be fair) too. Moyes was just a clown.

A lot of players have come and go now since Ferguson left. Is it just something in the water? Our players naturally rebel against managers? Managers that fail to play good football and get the best out of them? Or maybe we have to accept there's a possibility that we've been hiring the wrong people.

 

[Rashford2good]

I think jose is having a meltdown. What is going on with him? Seriously what is going on in his head? Why is he coming out and degrading us and throwing the players under the bus! I think he's engineering a move out of here I really do. It is really bizarre behaviour but didn't he do this at Chelsea before he got sacked second time around? He's making us a laughing stock. Not happy.

 

[SteveJ]

I've felt that, since he came here, Mourinho has little faith in our players - he's used to strong personalities, even if they're not top footballers, and we have very few strong personalities.

 

[Minimalist]

I've felt that, since he came here, Mourinho has little faith in our players - he's used to strong personalities, even if they're not top footballers, and we have very few.

You need a different approach then.

You can't just assume you'll have 11 Roy Keanes out there.

(I mean think of the cards for a start)

 

[tenpoless]

As I said both are at fault, him and his players.

Now He's trying to change things and motivate his players by throwing them under the bus ala Mourinho.
Whether or not this kind of thing fits the club and the players is a big question, should it fail, He'll be gone next season.

I've said if the board will give him at least one more season but his comment was basically an all or nothing - either you start doing it my way or we're done. He roasted the whole squad (only a few got his praise). If this backfires surely it'll be too costly to replace the players than the manager.

Years of mediocrity brought us into this... I sometimes want to blame just the manager as it's easier to do but the spineless players that I've been watching for years are still here and I can't forget about them, They really are cowards.

 

[Bruno Marques]

I find it strange how, the moment people start questioning his style of play, he makes a point of saying he's been working on it, but the players are not carrying it out on the pitch.

So, was this post match interview last year? Or ten years ago? I don't remember a time where José methods weren't questioned.

 

[Ban]

Or instead of thinking this is some continual neverending cycle, we admit that Mourinho was always a gamble in this regard?

I mean didn't he alienate his Madrid dressing room? He got sacked at Chelsea for a second time for losing the dressing room too didn't he?

That's his most recent history until he came to United. Sorry, you do remember that right?

It would be completely disingenuous to suggest that we've hired a manager that is known for getting along with his players. Van Gaal was known for it (not as much to be fair) too. Moyes was just a clown.

A lot of players have come and go now since Ferguson left. Is it just something in the water? Our players naturally rebel against managers? Managers that fail to play good football and get the best out of them? Or maybe we have to accept there's a possibility that we've been hiring the wrong people.

In Chelsea they have rebelled against the manager 3 or 4 times already in the past. Remember that? I think Conte is next in line.
And Madrid was always a circus, he wasn't only one to blame.

Sure, there is a possibility we're hiring wrong people but on the other hand if players have given up and we'll sack him cause of that we're giving the players power to change manager in the future when they want to and that isn't good at all imo.

 

[duffer]

Good question.

I think I would just like a more inspiring coach to be part of the team, we have Rui Faria who came from a fitness background, Carlos Lalin who specialises in fitness, Silvino Louro and Emilio Alvarez who work with the goalkeepers. Not a single coach including our manager with outfield experience.

Compare it to City who have Arteta, Pep, Domenec Torren who all played the game at a high level.

I know people will think this is a stupid post and will probably point out our backroom staff in 08/09 etc but I am just looking for solutions and how we can improve as the game is moving on and I sometimes question if Jose is being left behind.

I think Jose has people he trusts and knows. The only "new" people I can imagine him bringing in would either be promotions from your U23/18 coaching staff or a retiring player (Carrick?). At Chelsea first time around he brought Steve Clarke as an assistant and the second time around he kept on Steve Holland. He's not adverse to new people.

I'm not convinced it's an ego thing (Jose is about as pragmatic a manager as there is) as much as it is a trust thing. He's one of the most sucessful managers ever, why would he change now? He's second in the league only to the most expensively assembled side in the history of the sport.

 

[Minimalist]

In Chelsea they have rebelled against the manager 3 or 4 times already in the past. Remember that? I think Conte is next in line.
And Madrid was always a circus, he wasn't only one to blame.

Sure, there is a possibility we're hiring wrong people but on the other hand if players have given up and we'll sack him cause of that we're giving the players power to change manager in the future when they want to and that isn't good at all imo.

I'm possibly forgetting all of them but weren't all of those managers underperforming? I mean I remember Benitez getting shite from them regardless of performances just because of who he is to them.

I don't advocate players getting a manager sacked but whether it was wrong to do it or not, everything wasn't peachy as far as my memory goes.

 

[SirAF]

I think Jose has people he trusts and knows. The only "new" people I can imagine him bringing in would either be promotions from your U23/18 coaching staff or a retiring player (Carrick?). At Chelsea first time around he brought Steve Clarke as an assistant and the second time around he kept on Steve Holland. He's not adverse to new people.

I'm not convinced it's an ego thing (Jose is about as pragmatic a manager as there is) as much as it is a trust thing. He's one of the most sucessful managers ever, why would he change now? He's second in the league only to the most expensively assembled side in the history of the sport.

Shush, don’t speak so much sense! It’s not healthy at this place.

 

[SteveJ]

You need a different approach then.

You can't just assume you'll have 11 Roy Keanes out there.

(I think of the cards for a start)

True - his main method might be unsuitable for this club. It's no use having a select few players who'll run through walls for their manager if those players fundamentally lack talent. The truth may simply be that those players run through walls because they'd be out of United otherwise.

 

[Fooza]

It's the players who play consistently badly who need to be motivated - Luke Shaw is a prime example of a player who was not playing at all badly but gets crucified after 45 minutes.

This has been my biggest problem with Mourinho.

Certain players i.e Shaw, Martial, Rashford a few others seem to get 1 maybe 2 games max to prove to Mourinho they are entitled to keep playing. Yet without fail others will get an automatically lineup even with many poor games on the trot.

All this change and shifting ends up with no consistency in a team.

If the team lacks confidence, maybe we need to think is it Mourinho himself who is killing confidence in the players. I really hope Mourinho sorts it out next season.

 

[Ban]

This has been my biggest problem with Mourinho.

Certain players i.e Shaw, Martial, Rashford a few others seem to get 1 maybe 2 games max to prove to Mourinho they are entitled to keep playing. Yet without fail others will get an automatically lineup even with many poor games on the trot.

All this change and shifting ends up with no consistency in a team.

If the team lacks confidence, maybe we need to think is it Mourinho himself who is killing confidence in the players. I really hope Mourinho sorts it out next season.

Rashford had a dip in form and was still playing regulary.
Martial has been starting a lot of games too.

 

[redIndianDevil]

In Chelsea they have rebelled against the manager 3 or 4 times already in the past. Remember that? I think Conte is next in line.
And Madrid was always a circus, he wasn't only one to blame.

Sure, there is a possibility we're hiring wrong people but on the other hand if players have given up and we'll sack him cause of that we're giving the players power to change manager in the future when they want to and that isn't good at all imo.

Chelsea players have always rebelled against poor managers TBF.

 

[SirAF]

This has been my biggest problem with Mourinho.

Certain players i.e Shaw, Martial, Rashford a few others seem to get 1 maybe 2 games max to prove to Mourinho they are entitled to keep playing. Yet without fail others will get an automatically lineup even with many poor games on the trot.

All this change and shifting ends up with no consistency in a team.

If the team lacks confidence, maybe we need to think is it Mourinho himself who is killing confidence in the players. I really hope Mourinho sorts it out next season.

Rashford has played more matches than de Gea under Mourinho.