Back in the summer of 2016, Jose Mourinho became the helm of Manchester United with a lot of enthusiasm, and at that moment, the hearts of every Manchester United fan were full of hope. The arrival of Jose Mourinho brought glory to the Europa League and League Cup, and even rushed to second place in the league for a time. However, there are always unexpected twists in the story, and Mu Shuai left in the winter of 2018, which is still embarrassing.
It has been six years since Mu Shuai left, but when I look back, those past events are still full of emotion. In a recent interview, Jose Mourinho mentioned some of the hidden details of his Manchester United coaching career, particularly about the handling of conflicts within the team. He admitted that he had planned to purge some players in the team, but was blocked by the higher-ups. The dissatisfaction of these players, including big names like Paul Pogba, is a big reason for the intensification of internal tensions.
When asked about the reasons for the poor start to the third season, Mourinho's answer was full of helplessness and bitterness. He likened it, "Would you buy furniture before tidying up your house?" 'Obviously, he'd rather work out the problems within the squad before bringing in new signings. However, contrary to expectations, this plan to "clean up the house" did not come true. In his third season, Mourinho even made it clear that he didn't want to bring in specific players, but rather knew better which ones he didn't want. Behind all this, there is a profound question of how to deal with the contradictions between individuals and teams in the collective sport of football, especially when there are obvious differences.
Mu Shuai's experience makes people sigh. On the football field, the relationship between the coach and the players is as indispensable as the protagonist and supporting role in a stage play. But when conflicts arise, the way they are handled properly is often directly related to the future of the team. Jose Mourinho's last act at Manchester United was such a profound lesson. He once described Pogba as a "virus" and stripped him of his vice-captaincy, an act that undoubtedly exacerbated the rift within the team.
As football fans, we always want our team to be harmonious and united, but the world of football is far more complicated than we think. Jose Mourinho's Manchester United past is like a mirror, reflecting the cruelty and reality of the football world. Even so, we still love this sport because it always surprises and moves us the most inadvertently. Although the chapter of Jose Mourinho's Manchester United has been turned over, those memories will forever be engraved in the hearts of every Manchester United fan.