“The wrong man for the job. I think he’ll be gone before Christmas.”
Lee Sharpe’s opinion on the situation at Old Trafford doesn’t carry the same weight as several other former Manchester United players. But Sharpe echoed the thoughts of many football supporters when he predicted that Jose Mourinho probably won’t be at the club beyond Christmas.
Following Sunday’s bizarrely meek 3-2 loss to Brighton, a scoreline that flattered United, the pressure is building on the former Chelsea boss. It seems as though Jose hasn’t been backed by the United board. The players don’t appear to be fighting for him and the fanbase are restless.
Mourinho still has support amongst sections of United fans. But not as much as this time last year, when it looked like the club could mount a credible challenge to Manchester City. Now it appears that United will face a fight to make the top four and secure Champions League qualification.
However, the predictions that Mourinho won’t be at the club beyond Christmas could be wide of the mark.
Mourinho may be marginalised and under pressure, but United’s recent history shows that the club will give the manager time. Evidence suggests that they won’t sack Mourinho until it is mathematically impossible for United to qualify for the Champions League. The examples of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal prove this.
Moyes’ tenure peaked early. United beat Wigan Athletic in the Community Shield and recorded a 4-1 victory away to Swansea City on the opening weekend of the season. Following a goalless draw with Chelsea, results quickly nosedived and it became apparent that the former Everton manager was drastically out of his depth. Liverpool beat United 1-0 at Anfield and Manchester City humiliated Moyes’ side, hammering the Premier League champions 4-1.
United spent the autumn and winter languishing in eighth position. It was obvious from Christmas that the club wouldn’t finish in the top four and that Moyes, despite his six-year contract, wasn’t capable of managing such a big club.
Yet, the Scot wasn’t dismissed until April 22, two days after United lost to Everton at Goodison Park. The club didn’t sack Moyes until it was impossible for United to finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League, which suggests that there was a break clause in his contract if this occurred. This saved United from having to pay off the entirety of Moyes’ lengthy contract. They eventually finished seventh and missed out on European football for the first time since 1990.
Something similar happened with Van Gaal. United qualified for the Champions League in his first season and missed out on the top four because of Man City’s superior goal difference in his second campaign. As the Dutchman was making his way down the Wembley steps after lifting the FA Cup a few days later, news broke that he was to be sacked and replaced by Mourinho.
Van Gaal had a year left on his contract but, like Moyes, missing out on the Champions League cost him his job.
Back in January, United extended Mourinho’s contract until 2020 with the option of a further year. He is reportedly paid a basic salary of £15m a year. If they were to sack him before Christmas, it would cost the club a fortune to pay him off. However, there may be a break clause in the contract that will enable United to dismiss him for a fraction of the cost if they don’t qualify for next season’s Champions League.
United’s share price is set to hit a record high, and the club is valued at over three billion. In 2017, United reported record revenues of £581.2m. They aren’t short of money, but Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman, and the Glazer family aren’t in the business of throwing away money. They will want for Mourinho to set aside his grievances and focus on securing United’s place in the top four.
Unless something extraordinary happens, he will still be the club’s manager in 2019.
Of course, Mourinho could completely lose the dressing room, United could plummet down the Premier League table and crash out of the Champions League before Christmas. Such a scenario may lead to the club dismissing him mid-way through the season. But United have a talented team, and a few wins could change the mood around Old Trafford.
Supporters of the club hoping for Mourinho to leave may be left waiting until next summer at least for a change in the dugout.
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