Manchester United crisis: How long will the board continue in their self-deceit?

By Godwin Odiko

In United’s game against Newcastle in the first week of October, the Red Devils were trailing Rafa Benitez’s side by 2 goals, but the fans kept making it obvious through their vociferous chants that the board is responsible for the colossal downturn this season – and not the manager’s fault.

But fast forward to the Crystal Palace game on Saturday, the same set of fans couldn’t withstand watching a dire 90 minutes of football from their team – and made it known through their boos this time around as the man they once backed passionately journeyed towards the tunnel with his players.

Portrays the fact that the fans might have feigned backing the manager in October, but they are now stating the obvious that the team is heading for the crash if this manager continue with this group of players. So why is the board still trying to hide the fact they have given up on the manager at the detriment of the football club?

If the board at Liverpool had given up on Jurgen Klopp who is still without a trophy since joining in 2015, they won’t be signing the £75m check that led to the capture of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton nor would they sanction the world-record deal that brought Alisson Becker to the club in July.

At Manchester United, you have a board that has completely given up on the manager but are unwilling to fire him – leaving the club to sink.

The board will have to pay Jose Mourinho £20m as compensation if they sack him now, that as a result of the contract they signed with the Portuguese in January when the team were still a distant second in the Premier League to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. So why extend his contract until at least 2020 in January if you won’t back him in the market in July?

The board has given up on Mourinho but are unwilling to fire him. (Getty Images)

It was widely reported that Jose Mourinho handed the club’s board a five-man defensive shortlist in March, which is a long enough period for any forward-looking board to ponder upon and get back to the manager before the start of the transfer window which opened on the 17^th of May.

When you look at a club like Spurs where Mauricio Pochettino is getting the best out of the group of players that cost the club modest sums and didn’t even sign anyone in the last transfer window – yet they battered Chelsea on Saturday, one would definitely tend to reason the same part as the United board that Jose Mourinho should be doing better with the crop of players at his disposal, hence the refusal to let out the cash when the manager needed it.

There is no disputing the fact that the players must own up to their responsibilities which is to defend the badge, but the chemistry between manager and players is in a dwindling state. Liverpool and City players would die for Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, so will Spurs players for Mauricio Pochettino. United players won’t even take off their bedroom slippers for Jose Mourinho. It doesn’t make sense to continue keeping that group of players with that manager, things just won’t go well. It’s no rocket science.

So while the board is holding strongly to a belief borne out of deceit that the manager should be doing better with this squad - City are there thumping West Ham 4-0 on the ground United lost 3-1, Liverpool are defeating Watford away from home 3-0 and Spurs without any signing this season are thrashing Chelsea 3-1.

The board might still be counting profits at the moment, hence the reluctance in firing a manager they are not willing to back, but they must not forget the reason United topped Deloitte’s list this year for clubs with massive revenues – was as a result of the UEFA Europa League trophy the club won in Stockholm.

Manchester United topped the Money League released in January. However, Deloitte says "the clinching factor" was securing the UEFA Europa League title in Stockholm. (Getty Images)

Once the stock starts to fall on the pitch, it will eventually affect the stock off the pitch. And with the way and manner United are capsizing under Jose Mourinho this season, it’s only a matter of time before clubs like Manchester City who were placed fifth on Deloitte’s list topple United.

The board has to quit the self-deceit and end this marriage between Jose Mourinho and Manchester United now, because leaving the two to continue together will only result in further disaster for the football club.  

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