Manchester United Executive Vice President Ed Woodward called newly minted Manager Jose Mourinho the best manager in football. Actually the full quote read:
“José is quite simply the best manager in the game today,” said United chief Woodward.
“He has won trophies and inspired players in countries across Europe and, of course, he knows the Premier League very well, having won three titles here.”
“I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome him to Manchester United. His track record of success is ideal to take the club forward.”
Woodward doesn’t do many media interviews, mostly because he doesn’t have to. The executive doesn’t have to really answer to anyone other than his bosses and his investors. He’s accountable to the Glazers, not so much to fans or reporters. United, while still insanely commercially successful and as big a worldwide brand as they’ve ever been, are still in disarray on the football side.
The team played a dreadfully boring style most of this past season and they didn’t qualify for UEFA Champions League, next year. As the team grew more aesthetically displeasing to watch and tumbled down the standings, one truth became clear- Woodward is a genius on the commercial/financial/corporate side, but extremely lacking on the football side.
We said Mourinho was “minted” as manager and a mint would perfectly describe Old Trafford, as they are essentially printing money over there. Money “can’t buy me titles, or even major trophies” though as the fusion of Woodward and Louis van Gaal failed. To move the club forward after the disappointing regime of Van Gaal, hopefully Ed Woodward can take his hands off the roster and let Mourinho do his thing.
According to the Daily Star, “Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward will pander to Jose Mourinho and give him a bottomless pit of cash.”
If true, who will the club be buying? Well, here’s a list of five players United could be bringing over, and some of the back page transfer rumors today.
-The Guardian: “Jose Mourinho wants to make Chelsea’s Willian one of his first signings at Manchester United while it would be a major surprise if Zlatan Ibrahimovic does not join on a free transfer.”
-The Daily Mail has a different take on the Willian rumor: “Antonio Conte will not entertain the idea of selling Willian to Manchester United but the Chelsea head coach is willing to let fellow Brazil international Oscar leave this summer.”
Also via the Mail, “AC Milan’s teenage goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to stay put this summer despite attracting interesting from Manchester United and Chelsea.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram