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With losses piling up, let's see how special Jose Mourinho really is

James new author
Roar Rookie
19th September, 2016
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Jose Mourinho (Supplied)
James new author
Roar Rookie
19th September, 2016
12

It started so well for Jose Mourinho. Nine points from nine. Paul Pogba making a commanding, man of the match debut. Eric Bailly leaving tongues wagging. And Zlatan Ibrahimovic… Well, Zlatan doing what he does best.

‘City or United for the title’ was the phrase uttered by experts and fans alike.

Eight days and three defeats later, and things aren’t as rosy.

First came the Sky Blue beatdown, then an embarrassing, toothless defeat to Dutch outfit Feyenoord, in Jose’s beloved Europa League.

To top it off was defeat at Vicarage Road, the first time a United side has left Watford pointless in 30 years.

It’s been ten years since Mourinho lost three consecutive games. Is ‘The Special One’ losing his touch?

History says no.

Back in 2006, after Mourinho’s Chelsea lost three on the trot, the response was to take 25 of the next 30 points, winning the domestic cup double, while coming second to an Alex Ferguson and Critiano Ronaldo-driven Man United.

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Still, gone is the untouchable status Mourinho held during his previous tenures in England and across Europe. The vulnerabilities were astonishingly apparent in a disastrous end to a second spell at his then-beloved Chelsea, and 14 defeats in his last 32 games at United and Chelsea are ugly reading.

The seeds of doubt have already been sown, and Mourinho has few answers.

The constant finger-pointing at referees’ borderline decisions has been a beeline for Jose over his managerial career. Nothing new there. However, criticism of his players is becoming prevalent.

Aboard the sinking Chelsea ship of last season, Mourinho, rightly or wrongly, repeatedly called out senior players, leading to the revolt that cost him his job. Never underestimate player power.

Now, has the ball been set in motion at United? After Juan Zuniga put Watford ahead with seven minutes remaining, Luke Shaw was hauled off, leading to what looked like a heated discussion with his gaffer on the United bench. Mourinho then went on to criticise Shaw in his post-match interview.

Some United players are said to be shocked at the Portuguese’s treatment of the young full-back. On previous evidence, not the best way to keep your players on board. Apparently Mourinho has not learnt from the mistakes of last season.

If Mourinho’s powers are on the wane, then the Spaniard in the blue half of Manchester isn’t helping. After a perfect six games and six wins for Pep Guardiola, his Manchester City team seem to be purring with confidence and style.

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With the contrasts in fortune between these ferocious rivals, former United stars are beginning to speak.

Following City’s 4-0 Champions League win against Borrusia Mönchengladbach, Roy Keane said, “Two coaches in Manchester. Mourinho reckons he’s the Special One. To me, this guy [Guardiola] is.”

The majority of United fans will choose to ignore the Irishman’s comments. However, they have been heard.

This could very well be mountains out of molehills. However, upcoming fixtures in the League Cup against Northampton, followed by the visit of Premier League champions Leicester City, on Saturday, will prove to be a whole lot more important than was expected last week.

Defeat in the League Cup or against Leicester could very well allow those awkward questions to niggle, and those seeds of doubt begin to grow into something much more troublesome.

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