Jose Mourinho and Manchester United have been the most talked about entities in world football for last couple of months now. The Special One’s appointment as the new Old Trafford supremo has brought mixed reaction from United faithfuls and the haters.
Understandably, Mourinho is linked with almost every big name player in Europe ahead of the summer transfer window including Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gonzalo Higuain. While the funds are available for him to go out and sign whoever he wants, however, he needs to figure out the exact system he will use at Manchester United next season.
Mourinho’s 4-2-3-1 vs 4-3-3
Jose Mourinho has always favored a fluid 4-2-3-1 system during his days with Chelsea and Real Madrid where a hard working striker is complemented with explosive wingers and attack-minded full backs.
Mourinho’s 4-2-3-1 also requires two intelligent yet combative midfield players. Manchester United currently have the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Michael Carrick as the defensive midfielder options. It is up to Mourinho now to decide whether they are enough or will he need another enforcer in midfield before the 2016/17 season begins?
As for his 4-3-3 system, it is more based on the intelligent and creative midfielders dictating the tempo and bringing the front three in play. If he goes with this system then Ander Herrera, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata will end up fighting for places in the midfield role.
Mourinho’s must-sign players this summer
Regardless of the system Mourinho opts at Old Trafford next season, he needs to strengthen three key areas of his tam – central defense, right wing and striker. Going with the 4-3-3 may allow him to skip a world class midfielder this summer due to the lack of Champions League football next season.
United’s main target will be to finish as high as possible in Premier League and the current squad looks good enough to put up a fight under his astute management. Having said that, we are expecting Man United to spend close to £150million this summer to give Mourinho the best possible squad to mount a serious title challenge next season.
However, the manger first needs to pin down to a stable formation for Manchester United because going forward, it would dictate the kind of players he needs to bring in this summer.