Four antidotes to Jose Mourinho’s boring football Man Utd must apply before 10 August

José Mourinho’s Manchester United are boring.

Trust us, it’s alright to admit it. Even the majority of United diehards are finding themselves utterly unethused with the prospect of another season under the command of José Mourinho. The Portuguese coach had an impressive first season but has absolutely failed to build upon it, with a disappointing 2017/18 (despite improving the team’s league standing) and thus far a poor transfer window.

It’s safe to say that Manchester United need to make a change. But what could they do to drain the poison that Mourinho has let seep into the well? We’ve come up with four moves they could make that would be helpful anditodes and get the Red Devils playing somewhat attractive football (or at least football which isn’t painful to watch).

1. Sign Willian

Manchester United’s attack lacks a tremendous amount of balance. Their attack is so weighted to their left-hand side they may as well be The Winter Soldier or Misty Knight, flexing that impressive robot arm on the left whilst having a paltry human appendage on the right.

This tilt to the left also makes United so much more predictable and dull. With everything flowing through one flank, opponents can adjust and shut it down with ease knowing little to nothing will be produced by Juan Mata’s wandering nonsense and Antonio Valencia’s shin-bruising crosses. Signing a right winger would go a long way to fixing that, and Willian is wonderful winger.

Willian is reportedly frustrated at Chelsea, and wants to keep playing in the Champions League. Manchester United have tried to sign him in the past, only to be rebuffed by the Blues. However he has been linked repeatedly with Barcelona this summer, and the Blaugrana battering Chelsea’s door could just allow United to sneak in and knock the thing down.

Willian would be a perfect fit with Mourinho, having played under him at Chelsea and being a great stylistic match with the Portuguese coach besides that. He’s a hard-worker (which Mourinho obviously craves), has the crossing skill to supply Romelu Lukaku, and has the skill and improvisational ability to make that right-wing spot his own.

2. Change Formation

Of course, United can’t be guaranteed to sign Willian. Chelsea allegedly want north of £50m, which is crazy for a player who turns 30 before the season begins. So how could they make a much-needed shift without signing a right-winger to balance attack? Change formation.

Manchester United have long been associated with wingers and wing-play formation, but given the dearth of them in the current squad why not switch to a formation that does without them? José Mourinho has experimented with 3-5-2 in the past, but that relies heavily on United being able to field three (quality) centre-backs, and they would struggle to do that. So why not play a 4-1-2-1-2? A diamond midfield.

A diamond wouldn’t strain their centre-back depth and would put the emphasis on their midfield, which is where their greatest talent is. It would place emphasis on the brilliant Fred and bring World Cup star Paul Pogba into a key role. The system would also place Alexis Sánchez into a key role whilst finding a place to fit Marcus Rashford into the starting line-up, allowing him to continue his development in his preferred position whilst also keeping Romelu Lukaku in the side. The pair would form a deadly duo and, backed up by Alexis and Pogba, could make United a nightmare to defend.

3. Sign Harry Maguire

The problem with a 4-1-2-1-2 is that United would need to sign new full-backs to make it work, and for all their links to the likes of Alex Sandro, there has been no real movement. So how could United give their sides energy and drive without changing systems? Well all attacks begin from the back, so perhaps sign a new centre-back? And who better than England’s World Cup wonder, Harry Maguire?

This move would be two-fold: firstly Maguire’s arrival would allow United to play 3-5-2; a system Maguire excelled in at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. But more importantly, regardless of formation, Maguire would provide United with a colossal centre-back who could dominate aerially like Chris Smalling whilst defending on the deck like Eric Bailly and bringing the ball out like Victor Lindelof.

Maguire has the skill-set to be one of the best midfielders on the continent, striding out of defence like Gerard Piqué or Sergio Ramos and starting play with the utmost confidence. “Leicester have been unbelievable to me and I’m really happy there but I’m also an ambitious player and everyone wants to play at the top,” said Maguire, hinting that he’d be open to a move.

4. Structure around Alexis

Here’s the thing about whatever formation Manchester United play, or whatever players they sign: they will still have to have to accommodate Alexis Sánchez. The Chilean signed for United in January 2018 and had a poor debut campaign, but he was one of the few players to shine thus far in pre-season.

The issue is, when Alexis shines he does so in a role that unbalances the side. He roams in off the left-flank and runs all over the place, getting in people’s way. This can’t be helped, it’s how he plays, so Mourinho should structure the side to already accommodate him. It sounds ridiculous, but part of why United are such a chore to watch is that when Alexis shines, others don’t. Or when others shine, Alexis flounders. So giving him focus in the system itself could allow both to happen at the same time.

This could be in a 4-1-2-1-2, playing Alexis as a no. 10 and giving him full freedom to roam. Or it could be in a 4-3-3 with him on the left, but making sure that the left-sided central midfielder always drifts wide to fill in the space Alexis leaves along with the left-back who should be left-footed, maintaining width and team shape. We saw the effectiveness of this in last season’s FA Cup semi-final when Paul Pogba, wide on the left, won the ball back and crossed it into the middle for Alexis Sánchez to score.

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