It’s About Time Pep Stepped Up In Europe

Jose Mourinho is one of those managers you don’t expect to stay at a football club for longer than three or four years.

He’s moved on from clubs throughout his career, yet it was only six months ago that Mourinho was suggesting that he might be at Manchester United for life. Now all of a sudden there’s talk of PSG and suggestions he won’t end his career at Old Trafford.

It’s just the way Jose is. He never cuts off any avenues and…

he always tries to keep everybody onside including potential future employers.

But I do think Jose is settled at the moment. His United side will continue to be strong this season, they’re hard to beat and it’ll be a case of them trying to keep up with their Manchester neighbours. There’s a complete contrast in styles when you look at the way Pep Guardiola sets his team up and it’ll be a fascinating watch whenever them two meet this season.

Bore Draw
On Saturday the United side was set up for a typical Mourinho-style performance and although I thought it would be a draw I couldn’t believe there weren’t goals considering the way the two sides had been playing. Lukaku had a dreadful game and I did have a bit of sympathy for him. He’s at his best when there’s balls played in behind but he just didn’t get the service.

Having said that, part of that is his responsibility as his movement overall was seriously lacking and he didn’t give any of his midfielders the option for that long ball in behind. Overall he’s given United impetus this season and

his form has been good, but the big games will define their season.

Wenger Woes
Arsene Wenger is another manager in the headlines complaining about a bad decision but you expect Arsenal to be winning these games regardless. It was amazing to hear Troy Deeney question Arsenal’s ‘cajones’ in the studio after the game.

I saw it the same myself and when Deeney came on, Watford went more direct, they outfought Arsenal and Wenger’s troops didn’t have the answer. I was on the train home after going to the game and there was just sheer disappointment amongst the Arsenal fans and they were complaining about lack of fight.

They certainly didn’t get a fighting performance from Mesut Ozil.

He missed a great chance to make it 2-0 but his sense of awareness defensively wasn’t there and when they needed eleven players to pull together under the pressure they didn’t get that type of performance out of Ozil. It’s possible that Wenger’s decision to bring him on even cost Arsenal the game.

Step Up Pep
Manchester City notched another seven goals at the weekend and now they turn their eye to Europe in Champions League week. At the minute you feel they could score goals against any of the best sides in Europe and maybe for them it’s just about tightening up at the back because they do play open football.

The standard of their play has been sensational and anyone who has a season ticket at the Etihad this season is going to be entertained. With the squad they’ve got and the money they’ve invested they should be competing in the latter stages of the Champions League and I’m talking the final. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t make that step up now.