It’s that time of the season where Jose Mourinho typically comes into his own. Where performances are great to have but it’s all about getting results. Jose was given an extended contract in January to secure his future with the Old Trafford outfit. The next 4 and half months are crucial to Manchester United battling for the title in the 2018/2019 season.
With 8 league games remaining, Jose has to finish 2nd and possibly win an FA Cup. With Man City out of the cup, its up for grabs as I don’t feel as though any of the remaining teams in the FA Cup have the ability to beat Man City on present form. In United’s favour, they should be looking to pick nearly maximum points in the remaining games:
Swansea (H) – Win
Man City (A) – Defeat (Man City possibly winning the league title that day!
West Brom (H) – Win
Bournemouth (A) – Win
Arsenal (H) – Win
Brighton (A) – Win
Watford (H) – Win – Last game of the league season
West Ham (A) – Win - Date is TBC
The current 5 point gap over their nearest rivals Liverpool provides some breathing space for a defeat to City, which would be expected. A Draw would be a great result although with the pressure on that day for City, it’s difficult to imagine.
United have to right the wrongs the last time they played at Wembley against a very good Spurs side. The defensive errors cannot exist again and must look to start on the front foot. If they do so, they can get at the Spurs defence and seek to book a place in the FA Cup final against either Chelsea or Southampton.
Assuming United finish 2nd based on results outlined above, and possibly an FA Cup win we move into the summer transfer window. This is the first time since the move to shorten the window period to two openings a season, that it close before the PL starts in mid-August. There has been a lot of talk on social media about what Jose needs to do, get rid of the dead wood. I have to agree, without comparing ourselves to City, we are not going to match them by carrying too many average players.
The summer could see a massive overhaul at Old Trafford, with the likes of Carrick (retiring), Fellaini (out of contract), Darmian, Blind, Shaw, Smalling, Jones and possibly even two Spaniards in Juan Mata & Ander Herrera.
Progression is happening anyway you look at it, the football is better than it was under Moyes & Van Gaal, the results are much better and United are now on the brink of two successive years in the