Manchester United Manager Jose Mourinho hasn’t faced much criticism from the Red Devils community yet. After all, his career at Old Trafford has only just begun. Although Owen Hargreaves has suggested Mourinho would not be at Manchester United if Manchester City had not appointed Pep Guardiola.
When the critiques do start flying fast and furious his way, the Special One says that he will accept it.
At a club with a history as rich as United, there are so many legendary players who have worn the shirt. Many of gone on to become pundits in the media. Thus, it’s only a matter of time before a Red Devils club icon rips into Mourinho over something that he did.
You’ll recall what happened this past season when Paul Scholes repeatedly lit into then manager Louis van Gaal.
The dynamic between those two larger than life figures was testy, and Van Gaal often tried to downplay the importance and influence of Scholes’ opinions.
Mourinho on the other hand acknowledges the power of punditry and says he’s aware of how media personality opinion can shape fan opinion, good or bad.
Mourinho says that he welcomes the performance appraisals, even those that of the critical variety.
“At this club you find legends from five years ago, legends of 10 years ago, legends of 15 years ago and legends of 20 years ago,” he said in The Sunday Times.
“Their voice becomes very powerful. That is something you have to understand. When people belong to the club history, they are different to a normal pundit. You have to look at them in a different way. You have to be respectful with these guys.
“They are so powerful in the fans’ world that they can influence positively or negatively. The fans love them, so when they are positive they can unite and when they are negative they can create a more difficult situation.
“They are working and have to try to be honest and independent. So, myself, as Manchester United manager cannot ask them, ‘You belong to our history, you are here to help.’ You have to accept that if they are happy with the team they can elevate the support; if they are not happy maybe they can disturb and make things more difficult.
“I would say to them, ‘You are welcome at the training ground.’ Any time you want to give an opinion, welcome, it is your house, it is your home and you can be back when you want.”
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.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram
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