Former United player and assistant manager Mike Phelan has criticized Jose Mourinho for neglecting his duty as the club’s manager. Manchester United’s summer transfer window followed by their defeat to Brighton has seen Mourinho receive heavy criticism.
Phelan said, “Any manager of any big institution, which is what Manchester United is, internationally, you have a role and a responsibility to give out the correct messages. You don’t have to avoid conflict, but you certainly have to conduct yourself in a way which is befitting of the tradition of where you’re working, and that’s something you can do by keeping your own counsel and getting on with the job.
But he [Mourinho] is a completely different character and he expresses himself in a completely different way. There are opportunities to say things and there are opportunities to keep it to yourself. He chooses one way, and with that there are consequences in what you say.”
The former United player and assistant manager also believes that the problems within the team will benefit Manchester City. He said,“There is fierce competition within the city. If United are at loggerheads within the club, it just helps fuel City’s cause more than anything else.
That’s something they need to be very careful of, because City are a very big club now and they’re very well run. They know how to use certain situations, and unrest across the road helps. It can’t not be a help and they use it well.”
There are many who believe that Mourinho won’t last the season. In fact, former United player Lee Sharpe said that Mourinho will receive the sack by Christmas. However, Phelan refuses to think so. He said, “I don’t think so. You’re the manager of Manchester United, why would you want to leave that situation? It probably is delicate right now, in terms of his managerial role, but most things are controlled by results. You’ve got to perform well, get the right results and enjoy the time that you’re there.
Not many people become manager of Manchester United. Sir Alex had it for a long, long time, then a few have come along since to try to emulate him and make them the champions again. It’s something you’ve got to embrace, rather than not embrace, because it’s a fabulous time to be at a football club of that magnitude.”
Manchester United take on Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford today.
