Why Manchester United Manager Jose Mourinho is Starting Two Holding Midfielders
After Marcus Rashford introduced his new dog to the Twitterati the pup became a meme. Saint Rashford’s hangdog expression emerged two days after United had lost 1-0 to 18th-placed Newcastle, where Jose Mourinho fielded the same side which was schooled by Tottenham 11 days earlier in the same formation.
“Me when I see Mourinho’s 4-2-3-1 crab,” was one of the wittier replies to Saint Rashford’s unveiling. Mourinho has not started the Paul Pogba-Nemanja Matic axis since but he he has opted for two central midfielders in the last three games and Pogba was a non-starter against Liverpool, Sevilla and Brighton.
Two holding midfielders stifled Liverpool but were stifling as United were ejected by Sevilla three days later. At times in that tie Marouane Fellaini was so advanced the set-up appeared more 4-1-4-1 and United became looser once the rogue Pogba replaced the Belgian. Just like against Newcastle and Tottenham, they lost with Matic and Pogba side by side.
Mourinho responded to the 4-3-3 clamour after Newcastle beat United in early February but it began without the Frenchman in the XI and lasted three matches as Pogba suffered a training injury. The tension between manager and midfielder is lingering and it is actually uncertain whether Pogba will dislodge Scott McTominay to start against Swansea on Saturday.
Swansea have lost just one of their last eight in the Premier League and Mourinho’s tendency to overrate opponents could extend to Carlos Carvalhal’s resurgent relegation candidates on Saturday afternoon. Mourinho fielded a midfield trio at Huddersfield – one place below Swansea – last month and Matic, McTominay and Michael Carrick are not renowned for their attacking.
Nine of McTominay’s 12 starts have come alongside Matic and Pogba has only lined up with them on two occasions – against Chelsea and Crystal Palace. United began both fixtures hopelessly and McTominay was withdrawn at the interval at Selhurst Park.
Three is still the magic number for United supporters but Mourinho believes his insistence on a holding midfield duo is enforced. It is understood the United manager finds his defence to be so unreliable he feels he has to shield it with two defensive-minded midfielders.
Mourinho’s approach could change if he is successful in the transfer market. United are prepared to bid for Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld, Mourinho remains a firm admirer of his former Real Madrid centre half Raphael Varane and Shakhtar Donetsk enforcer Fred is under consideration to replace Fellaini.
United have encountered issues with their prudent passers in place of Pogba. The forwards expressed reservations with the lateral and risk-aversive passing by the midfielders at half-time last month following a goalless half against Huddersfield, when Pogba was dropped. He has only started three matches since February 3.
The reliance on attentive midfielders to stymie opponents does not augur favourably for Pogba as United attempt to salvage silverware from their season. Pogba can be consoled by injury dictating Mourinho’s recent reversion to a midfield pair and the Tottenham torture may have persuaded the United manager to supplement Pogba and Matic with an additional midfielder for the FA Cup semi-final.
Or Mourinho may have happened upon a coping mechanism against top six competitors in that Liverpool victory this month. Romelu Lukaku’s tendency to drop deep if the ball was in the air or on the deck was an incisive tactic, Juan Mata’s infield running and Alexis Sanchez’s positioning ensured the striker was never isolated as the haring Marcus Rashford struck twice in a supreme first-half. McTominay and Matic were the stone and the front four the scissors.
Courtesy : Manchester Evening News
Photo : talkSPORT
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