Sidney Sladen
The legendary Sir Alex Ferguson has hailed the job being done by Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, suggesting that the team have been “unlucky” not to be in the mix of things following a brilliant run of results in the league campaign.
The Red Devils are currently placed 5th in the Premier League table and have won the EFL Cup already under the Portuguese. Ferguson, who enjoyed 27 memorable years in charge of United, believes that with a bit more fortune, the season could have been even better for Mourinho’s men.
Speaking to Sirius XM FC (h/t James Ducker of the Daily Telegraph): “I get on well with Jose and think he’s doing a really good job. He’s been a bit unlucky actually because there are home games this season they’ve been absolutely brilliant in but have drawn them. If they’d got those wins they deserved they’d be challenging for the league, there’s no doubt about that.”
Manchester United are 17 points behind runaway leaders Chelsea in the league table and have no chance of winning the title by any means. However, their target of finishing in the top-4 looks quite bright, with the Red Devils sitting just 4 points behind 4th placed Liverpool. Manchester United have two games in hand on the Merseysiders.
Man United are slowly beginning to take shape under Jose Mourinho. They’re on an 18 game unbeaten run in the top-flight. Though the performances have lacked fluency at times, the team has shown tremendous determination to battle through difficult matches.
However, supporters will lament the number of draws on the record this season. Those results will be lamented even more should United fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season. But with the Red Devils still involved in the UEFA Europa League, there are two avenues open into Europe’s elite club competition for the 2017-18 season.
Sir Alex also admitted that he would like to see Manchester United prioritise Europa League over a top-4 finish in the league.
The 75-year old added: “They could do it [finish fourth], but I look on the Europa League as a great chance. First of all, the club has never won the Europa League. It adds to the CV, so I think we’ve got a good opportunity.”
United are into the last eight of the competition, where they will face Anderlecht, and they have a great chance of lifting the trophy. Though it is not an easy tie, the task is not an impossible one.
It would be safe to say that Manchester United are still a work in progress under Mourinho and the Portuguese manager will be thinking the areas where he should improve his squad. His team have found it difficult at times to find the back of the net and it would surely be a matter of concern for Jose.
In #mufc‘s worst home draws vs Stoke, Burnley, Hull and Bournemouth they had 98 attempts at goal and scored twice.
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) March 6, 2017
However, if United manage to win the Europa League this season, it wouldn’t be a bad season after all, as they have already won the EFL Cup.
