Man United face Chelsea in their Premier League fixture this weekend and the Newcastle result is not the only thing that could give Jose Mourinho renewed confidence. In a week’s time, reporters and photographers will file into Manchester United’s training ground and scrutinise Jose Mourinho’s body language in the wake of a fourth Premier League defeat. Well, probable defeat. For United are at Chelsea on Saturday and that usually signals their annual Stamford Bridge defeat. Sir Alex Ferguson conceded in 2011 United’s record there was ‘c**p’ and his final Premier League visit there six years ago remains the last time United won at Chelsea. And they still lost twice at the Bridge that season in the League Cup and FA Cup. Mourinho has maintained United’s wretched record at Chelsea with three more losses by an aggregate score of 6-0 and, whatever Manchester City and Liverpool’s results, a point for United would be positive. Peculiarly, United are just seven points adrift of the top three unbeaten teams on 20 points.
It is such an inauspicious fixture Mourinho is, barring a record shellacking at his old stomping ground, guaranteed to be in the Old Trafford dugout to welcome the Old Lady of Juventus on Tuesday. Before that Friday night report signalled his premature demise, the United hierarchy were making positive noises about Mourinho’s position and the board remains desperate for him to succeed. Not least to spare Ed Woodward the embarrassment of dismissing a third manager within David Moyes’ six-year contract timeframe. Woodward’s public rhetoric, albeit on the eve of the Derby shootout sham, was positive. “Everyone at the club is working tirelessly to add to Manchester United’s 66 and Jose’s 25 trophies,” Woodward said in their quarterly financial statement last month. “That is what our passionate fans and our history demands. “We are committed to our philosophy of blending top academy graduates with world-class players.” If only that commitment was switched on in the summer. “We know our position is one that requires continued effort and investment to maintain,” Woodward added in the September 25 conference call. “Our board, our investors and everyone at the club are aligned with the fans with what we need to do on the pitch and that is to win trophies. That’s one of the reasons why we hired Jose Mourinho and have already won three with him.”
At least Woodward is giving Mourinho what he wanted. Woodward took cover as Mourinho unloaded on the players, the board, the schedulers and others in the United States, where the United executive vice-chairman attended the first and last friendlies in Phoenix and Miami. Mourinho complained to confidants about a lack of face-time with Woodward during the tour and was not referring to the Apple app. That footage filmed by a journalist in the Hard Rock Stadium mixed zone of Woodward hurriedly catching up with Mourinho while shouting ‘Jose, Jose’ captured the pair’s distance at a time where they could not have been any closer. Woodward’s handshake and pat on the shoulder for Mourinho was maybe one of reassurance at the time as deadline day loomed but has taken on a different meaning in the intervening months.
