Jose Mourinho has endured a mixed first season as Manchester United manager particularly in the first part of the season but it has certainly improved in the past two and a half months as the team is delivering mostly solid performances now. It could, of course, have gone a lot better, with the Red Devils currently twelve points adrift of the Portuguese’s former club, Chelsea, who are running away with the Premier League title.
However, the red half of Manchester remain the only side still fighting on four fronts in English football. With a 3-0 win in their round of 16 Europa League clash with St. Ettienne beginning what could be a definitive ten days in Mourinho’s maiden term at Old Trafford.
With an FA Cup fifth round tie at Blackburn Rovers sandwiched between the two European legs before the chance to take home his first major trophy as Manchester United manager, the EFL Cup final against Southampton a week Sunday, Mourinho is navigating a tough spell.
Come away from the ten days with a trophy and a ball in the hat for the quarter-finals of both the Europa League and FA Cup, and the season, despite Premier League glory, will begin to shape into a successful one.
After a turbulent start, the former Real Madrid and Inter Milan manager seems to have struck a system, with his side having gone unbeaten in the league since October, a 4-0 loss at Stamford Bridge.
Although there have been a number of draws in that run, keeping them sixth in the Premier League standings, for now, his work has not gone unnoticed. Mourinho looks to be, slowly but surely, building something that could be quite the force over the next few seasons at Old Trafford, and the powers that be in Manchester have taken notice.
Reports have emerged that the Manchester United chiefs are ready to offer their man a new deal, extending the current three-year-agreement signed in the summer. The key element of their offer is that, if the reports are correct, Mourinho is to be offered the deal regardless of whether or not he seals Champions League football.
Ed Woodward recently faced questioning from stakeholders and investors over the club’s financial state as they released the latest figures for the last year, with the financial impact of another year outside of Europe’s blue riband competition a hot topic.
The reports of a new deal, discounting Champions League qualification, serve as an indication that all involved in the running of the club can, rather refreshingly, see the work that Mourinho is putting in this season, although it looks likely to return the title everyone wanted immediately, can pay great dividends in the years to come.