Recent Man Utd struggles further highlight Sir Alex’s greatness

Following the sad state Manchester United found itself in under the reins of David Moyes (2013-2014) and his successor Louis van Gaal (2014-16), compared to the club’s former high standards, current manager Jose Mourinho brought a lot of hope.

The hope was accompanied with hype (rightly so) and doubts (understandably so).

United and Mourinho were a perfect couple on paper: the Portuguese coach is a superstar manager who was joining one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Let me explain why I say the hype around his arrival was deserved. He’s a two-time Champions League winner with his first being one of the most impressive in the history of the competition. He ironically knocked out United en route to the most prestigious trophy in club football with an unlikely candidate: Porto.

The Portuguese also won two consecutive English Premier League titles when he managed one of the more dominant Chelsea squads in recent memory – just to list a few of his accolades.

Mourinho himself justifies the doubts that accompanied him to Old Trafford. His controversial history and character need no emphasis.

This is the same man who ranted the following after United’s recent Champions League exit: “I don’t want to make a drama out of it, we don’t have time for that. We have a match on Saturday, we have no time to be sad for more than 24 hours. And that’s football, it’s not the end of the world.

“I’ve sat in this chair twice before in the Champions League, and I knocked Man Utd out at home twice, with Porto – Man United out, and with Real Madrid – Man United out. So this is nothing new for this football club.”

This might be true, but it speaks volumes about Mourinho’s commitment, or rather lack thereof, to make United one of the best European teams again.

He’s into his second season in charge at Old Trafford and his résumé does show that he normally succeeds in the second season of most of his jobs.

This will certainly not be the case this time around with the FA Cup being the only realistic chance to taste silverware.

That being said, it’s too early to write off the former Real Madrid trainer, but at the moment it’s his controversy rather than the hype that he’s doing justice to.

The last time United won the league was 2013 with Sir Alex Ferguson.

The last time the club tasted European glory was 2008 and finished as runners-up the following year and 2011, both under Sir Alex.

United’s last taste of a meaningful trophy (English title) was 2013, the same year the Scot retired.

His successor, Moyes, was in charge of United for 10 months, the third shortest managerial stint in the club’s history. The only cup he won at the club was the 2013 Community Shield, a season curtain-raiser, when United beat Wigan Athletic 2-0.

Moyes’ successor, van Gaal’s stint was dominated by mixed results. Despite spending in excess of 200 million pounds and boasting a squad with the likes of Radamel Falcao, Angel Di Maria, Wayne Rooney and Ander Herrera, just to list a few, his best finish in the league was fourth and his only time on the winners’ podium was when United beat Crystal Palace 2-1 after extra time when United matched Arsenal’s record of 12 FA Cup wins.

With Mourinho currently at the helm, the one characteristic of the old United football that fans desperately miss, and which is unlikely to be seen, is attack-flowing football.

What is likely to happen is silverware returning to the Theatre of Dreams as the team has already shown significant progress since the Portuguese’s arrival.

Yes, Ferguson had the comfort of longevity to stamp his ways on the club, but with his disappointing European record aside, despite bagging two, his return speaks for itself.

His 13 league titles averaged one league win every two seasons. His sides were also accompanied with aura, swagger and an intimidating factor.

If he hadn’t met the once invincible Barcelona side tutored by Pep Guardiola and led by one devastating Lionel Messi, the legendary Scot would’ve won more in Europe.

The beautiful irony is that Mourinho dominates the head-to-head battle against Ferguson. The incumbent United coach dominated the rivalry with seven wins out of their 16 battles. Ferguson only got three over him.

But you could understand why Mourinho refers to the former United manager as ‘boss’. – @SabeloBoksburg