Manchester United seem to have regained their temporarily missing aura and fear factor after Jose Mourinho’s appointment and the subsequent successful transfer window. The Red Devils seem to have accepted their mistakes and have taken the conventional route to success after failed experiments with David Moyes and Luis Van Gaal. Manchester United completed their transfer activity before the season started and the way they have got off to a flying start has justified Jose Mourinho’s decision to do so.
MAJOR TRANSFER ACTIVITY
INS
Paul Pogba- Juventus £89.25m; Eric Bailly- Villarreal £30m; Henrikh Mkhitaryan- Borussia Dortmund £26m; Zlatan Ibrahimovic- PSG (free)
OUTS
Paddy McNair- Sunderland £5m; Donald Love- Sunderland £1m; Will Keane- Hull City £1m; Guillermo Varela- Eintracht Frankfurt (loan); James Wilson- Derby County (loan); Adnan Januzaj- Sunderland (loan); Cameron Borthwick-Jackson- Wolves (loan); Nick Powell- Wigan Athletic (free); Víctor Valdés- Middlesbrough (free); James Weir- Hull City (undisclosed)
Source: Sky Sports
WHAT JOSE GOT RIGHT
United were the most efficient club in a long time with deals being completed without much fuss before an expected snag hit the Paul Pogba transfer. But it was understood to be more about the player being off on a holiday rather than any last minute nerves from the club. They have solved their biggest issue of their impotency in front of goal without spending a buck on Zlatan’s Ibrahimovic’s transfer. Eric Bailly looks like a well-scouted acquisition and has taken to the Premier League like fish to water. While Henrikh Mkhitaryan is an excellent addition and will surely be a creative force for them in the years to come as well as this season. And they probably made the biggest statement of intent with their world-record transfer of Paul Pogba from Juventus.
There were thousands of detractors but United were firm on bringing back their prodigal son and early signs show they are on the cusp of a huge season and Mourinho is building towards a big impact in the Champions League next season.
WHAT HE MIGHT NOT HAVE
Manchester United will be glancing nervously at the right-back position after deciding against going all out for any reinforcements. Valencia has got off to a very good start and Fosu-Mensah is capable of playing there, But Mourinho’s uncertainty with their only recognized player in that area- Darmian might is a cause for concern and something which might come back to haunt him against stronger opposition or in case of an injury. And after rendering German legend Bastian Schweinsteiger as surplus to requirements, it would have been apt if the club were more committed to arranging his move to another team.
