The rapturous celebrations that followed Marcus Rashford’s injury-time winner against Hull City on Saturday evening were reminiscent of United’s heady glory days under Sir Alex Ferguson.
As Rashford and co. streaked across the pitch to celebrate with their delirious travelling supporters, Jose Mourinho was already one step ahead, motioning for Chris Smalling to get stripped. From the players reaction it was clear that Mourinho, in just his first month of competitive football at United, had instilled a togetherness and frenzied passion not seen at the Manchester club for sometime.
From David Moyes’ cumbersome tactics and recruitment or rather a lackthereof, to Louis van Gaal’s ponderous possession game, the life and soul had been sucked out of the United players and fans alike. The dreary football being churned out had begun to take it’s toll, with some fans opting to bring their own entertainment to the Theatre of Dreams.
United’s long-term investment in Moyes had backfired spectacularly, and the short-term solution offered by Van Gaal never got off the ground. Cue The Special One, his cool demeanour and confident swagger stand in sharp contrast with his two predecessors. While Moyes is an expert in mid-table mediocrity, Mourinho is a specialist in silverwear. Van Gaal adjunct professor of his own muddled philosophy, Mourinho the master of tactical warfare. It is this self-assured confidence and conviction in the dugour that Old Trafford has been in dire need of.
Before a ball was kicked the Portuguese had made his intentions clear, with some swift and stunning action in the transfer market. Superstar striker and ex-colleague, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was brought in on a free transfer, followed by Eric Bailly, Bundesliga midfielder of the season Henrikh Mkhitaryan signed-on, and finally Paul Pogba followed for a world record fee of €105 million (£89 million). It’s the least recognisable name in that list that has proved most effective. Bailly has been picking-up man-of-the-match awards like free season tickets. Yet, speaking about the 22-year-old Ivorian at the start of the season, Mourinho said:
“So is Eric ready to come here and start performing from day one?
“I don’t know. It is a question mark but my job is to delete that question mark as soon as possible and give him the stature, brain and personality to play for Manchester United.”
Mourinho has deleted the question mark, gone into the server and wiped it from existence. Bailly’s combination of adept ball playing, athleticism and pace have made him a surprising standout from a lineup of stellar summer signings. This a key quality the 53-year-old manager retains. An ability to promote confidence and instill maximum self-belief, akin to Ferguson’s power to get every last drop out of his players.
It’s not just the new additions Mourinho has firing, Antonio Valencia and Marouane Fellaini both look like rejuvenated forces under the new United manager. Players thought to be surplus to requirements have been shown a new lease of life rather than the exit door.
Add in the Community Shield and Mourinho is four-from-four with a handsome eight goal haul, and yet, The Special One hasn’t brushed-off all the cobwebs. At times United look devoid of inspiration when in possession, a hangover still lingering from the Van Gaal era. Only time on the training pitch will get Mourinho’s men playing the Mourinho way.
With the untimely distraction of the international break this week, time on the training pitch will be at a premium. But with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City up next for Mourinho and his men, in what pits two old foes against each other, there couldn’t be a better test to see if Mourinho can truly bring United back to their brilliant best.