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Thanks to Mourinho, Man United now have shot at title

Written off as no-hopers that would struggle to get close to the Top Four just a few weeks back, six wins on the spin have propelled Manchester United back into the English Premier League (EPL) title race. TODAY’s EPL analyst Adrian Clarke (sports [at] mediacorp.com.sg) explains what has changed, and why he thinks Jose Mourinho’s men have a chance of even becoming champions ...

With Jose Mourinho’s changes to the team, Manchester United have been performing well and may have turned into contenders for the English Premier League title. Photo: Getty Images

With Jose Mourinho’s changes to the team, Manchester United have been performing well and may have turned into contenders for the English Premier League title. Photo: Getty Images

Written off as no-hopers that would struggle to get close to the Top Four just a few weeks back, six wins on the spin have propelled Manchester United back into the English Premier League (EPL) title race. TODAY’s EPL analyst Adrian Clarke (sports [at] mediacorp.com.sg) explains what has changed, and why he thinks Jose Mourinho’s men have a chance of even becoming champions ...

THEY HAVE FOUND A MIDFIELD BLEND

It seemed blindingly obvious, but as soon as Jose Mourinho decided to plonk Michael Carrick into the centre of a midfield three — hey presto, results picked up.

Providing control, intelligence and a sublime range of passing from deep, the 35-year-old is the chief catalyst behind a wonderful turnaround in form.

Quite why it took until Nov 6 for the Manchester United boss to start the veteran playmaker in a Premier League game remains one of the season’s great oddities (what was he seeing before?) but the Portuguese has at least arrived at the right place now, and his team looks so much better for it.

With Paul Pogba stationed on one side, and Ander Herrera the other; United’s engine room now has a lovely balance that suits all parties.

Carrick is the classy conductor, Spaniard Herrera is the busy bee that presses well and instigates a spark, while Pogba — backed up by those two excellent defensive players — can now lope around the field with just his creative influence to worry about. He drives defenders to distraction with his runs and passes from deep.

In the seven matches United have used this trio as their midfield unit, they have won five and drawn two. They click beautifully.

NO GREY AREAS IN ATTACK

The Special One has nailed his colours to the mast.

Everyone now knows his best midfield combination, and he has stated on record that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is indispensable. This effectively means two places are up for grabs on either side of the goal-gobbling Swede.

Confusion over who should play where, and in what formation, has ended. Juan Mata, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Wayne Rooney and Jesse Lingard know two of them will play, and it is down to them to do the business whenever they get their chance.

This clarity appears to have raised the bar, with most of United’s forwards turning in terrific performances during their current 11-game unbeaten run.

Martial was magnificent against Middlesbrough, Rashford looks sharp, Mata is among the goals, and the rejuvenated Mkhitaryan is running on fresh batteries. I tipped the Armenian to be a star at Manchester United, and after a false start, that is what he is fast becoming.

Surrounded by all these hungry teammates, in a system that suits him, Ibrahimovic is loving it.

 

THE RETURN OF JONES

United’s gaffer has always loved a grizzly, no-nonsense centre-back.

Think Jorge “The Animal” Costa at Porto, notorious hard man Walter Samuel at Inter Milan, Real Madrid’s Pepe, and his favourite at Chelsea, John Terry.

Step forward, Phil Jones.

I had an inkling the injury-prone but talented forgotten man of Old Trafford might be his new manager’s cup of tea, and so it has proved. Boosted by the knowledge he is liked by Mourinho, the England defender has been outstanding since reclaiming his spot at the expense of Chris Smalling.

His partnership with Marcos Rojo has been an unlikely success. Moving forward, expect Jones and Eric Bailly to be first choice at United.

MOURINHO HAS REDISCOVERED HIS MAGIC TOUCH

No one is saying that Mourinho is a busted flush anymore.

What has happened? For starters, he is less angry. His constant gripes were tiresome, and United’s players did not respond well to that antagonistic approach. By all accounts, dropping the frosty persona has helped him engage better with the players in his squad.

The managerial masterstrokes have begun to resurface too. His rotation has been far smarter, and the impact of his substitutions has improved markedly.

By sending Rojo and Mata on for Daley Blind and Marouane Fellaini, he turned the Middlesbrough contest in United’s favour. And last time out at West Ham, he also absolutely nailed it, with the half-time introduction of Mata, who scored from fellow sub Rashford’s assist.

The touch is back.

HOW FAR CAN UNITED GO?

Manchester United now form part of a genuine six-horse title race.

They may be 10 points off leaders Chelsea, but with his knack of knowing how to eke out results in the matches that matter, and momentum in their favour, I cannot strike them off my list of possible winners.

I am not saying they will be champions, but they do have a shot at it.

Old Trafford is becoming a fortress once more. The swagger is still diluted compared with what it was in Fergie’s Cantona and Ronaldo-inspired pomp, but with every win they gain, the speed of United’s play is cranked up a gear. With the talent Mourinho has to choose from, the balance he has now found, and his own experience in crunch title race encounters, whatever happens between now and May, I feel convinced Manchester United will have a say.

Based on what I have seen, they will finish above Manchester City, and I will now be surprised if they miss out on the top four.

Considering where they were when Chelsea wiped the floor with them in October, it has been one heck of a swift revival.

FA CUP PREDICTIONS

MANCHESTER UNITED v READING

Jaap Stam will receive a heroes’ welcome from fans at Old Trafford, but the Reading boss won’t be smiling at the final whistle. The Championship high flyers are a decent outfit, but United will be focused on the defence of their trophy.

Prediction: Man United 3 Reading 1

PRESTON NORTH END v ARSENAL

The Gunners are under big pressure from their own disgruntled fans, and Preston may create one or two alarm bells. They are big and strong, and excellent at set pieces, with players who could seize on sloppiness. If Arsenal’s attitude is right though, they will progress.

Prediction: Preston 1 Arsenal 2

TOTTENHAM V ASTON VILLA

Villa don’t concede many goals under Steve Bruce, but they may struggle to contain a Spurs side that’s still on cloud nine after a magnificent win against Chelsea. Can Dele Alli make it four braces in a row with two more strikes? Maybe not, but Tottenham should edge through without any dramas.

Prediction: Tottenham 2 Aston Villa 0

 

TV LISTING

FA CUP

TODAY

Manchester United v Reading

Singtel TV Ch109, 8.20pm

 

TOMORROW

Preston v Arsenal

Singtel TV Ch109, 1.20pm

 

Liverpool v Plymouth Argyle

Singtel TV Ch109, 9.20pm

 

Chelsea v Peterborough

Singtel TV Ch110, 10.50pm

 

Tottenham v Aston Villa

Singtel TV Ch109, 11.50pm

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