I’ve been watching football for about 45 years now.
I’m not giving my age away, but it was since I was old enough to understand the basics of the game.
But to this day, I still don’t fully understand what makes a great manager.
I mean, Jose Mourinho has been one of the world’s most successful, but he’s managing to turn one of the most expensive squads on the planet into an average team.
After Manchester United beat Watford a couple of weeks ago, I remember Jose giving a big smile at the post-match conference and I thought “ahhh, there he is”.
I remembered his time at Stamford Bridge, the grinning, the laughs, the comedic press conferences and the amazing connection he had with his players.
But that’s pretty much disappeared.
And so has the tactical brilliance that assured us Chelsea fans that no matter who we played, we’d be guaranteed at least a point.
There’s a number of crucial elements that need to synchronise to create a great side: tactics, philosophy, player management, budget, belief, motivation, relationships, skill and preparation.
It’s a complex business, coaching a football team at any level to success.
Now take a bunch of 20 to 28 year old multi-millionaires with egos as big as their salaries and try and balance all of that out.
But for me, looking in from the outside, without a real clue of what’s going on behind the scenes, the factor that’s missing at United is enjoyment.
OK, it’s easy to have a smiling coach and team when the results are going your way and we know that poor results and performances breed discontent, but looking back at the mid-2000s, win or lose, there was unity at Chelsea.Jose inspired his players.
He never called out individuals or the team as a whole for bad outings. He protected his boys like family.
He confronted the press with sharp wit and refused to be drawn into negative talk.
Players cried when he left Inter Milan, as they did at Chelsea. Today, it couldn’t be more different.
Despite glimpses of what United can be about given the talent available, intensity and energy levels are nowhere near where they should be.
Creative players like Alexis Sanchez, Juan Mata and Anthony Martial appear stifled, scared to express themselves in a rigid and fragile system that doesn’t allow for mistakes.
A dark cloud hangs over Old Trafford, optimism has been replaced with pessimism and it feels as if the boss himself is doubting his own ability.
The negative situation is of course compounded, as the noisy neighbours, Scousers and Chelsea continue to produce brilliant (winning) football.
What is very clear, in England and abroad, is that high press, attacking football is the way forward, just check the top clubs in all the leagues.
Jose needs to adapt to that and, with the great players at his disposal, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t.
There’s also absolutely no doubt that he’ll be booted out of his job at the end of this season if United don’t at least achieve a top-four finish.
It was wonderful to see Fergie back in the stands on Saturday, looking like his his old self, big smile on his face.
Just a real shame that he was there to witness a performance that encapsulated everything that has gone wrong at Old Trafford since his retirement.
My son will be at West Ham v United on Saturday.
Given the pressure on United and the resurgence of the Hammers over the last two weeks, it’s gonna be a huge one to witness, lucky fella.
Atmosphere will be amazing just not clear who’s gonna be singing “there’s only one United?” at the final whistle...