da bet7： Manchester United finally confirmed at 8.30 yesterday evening that Louis van Gaal has been relieved of his managerial duties, following relentless reports of the Dutchman’s sacking throughout the day.
da winzada777： And it appears Jose Mourinho will indeed succeed the ‘Iron Tulip’ in the Old Trafford dugout, as speculated continuously since his departure from Chelsea in December, with BBC Sport claiming talks between the Red Devils and the three-time Premier League winner are already underway.
Changes in management nearly always resonate throughout the first team squad, as the new gaffer looks to implement his own philosophy and bring in his choice of new signings to complement it.
Inevitably, some established stars end up slumping down the pecking order, whilst those they were once selected over experience an upturn in fortunes.
With that in mind and Mourinho’s appointment seemingly all-but-official, we take a look at FIVE potential winners and losers from the managerial switch-around at Old Trafford…
LOSER – JUAN MATA
Juan Mata must be starting to mistake Jose Mourinho for the grim reaper. The Portuguese is almost certain to axe the Spain international for the second time in two years at consecutive clubs, having sold the former Chelsea star to Manchester United in January 2014 despite previously claiming back-to-back Player of the Year awards at Stamford Bridge. The Special One made no secret of his issues with the midfield maestro, particularly a lack of work-rate and proneness to errors in defensive areas, but in truth, Mata probably hasn’t hit the heights expected since his £37.5million move anyway.
WINNER – PHIL JONES
Phil Jones has become a forgotten man at Old Trafford; a shadow of the £16.5million signing who showed so much promise under Sir Alex Ferguson and reduced to bench duty amid a raft of recurring injury problems. But Jose Mourinho has always been a fan of the 24-year-old and wanted to bring him to Real Madrid before the Red Devils whisked him away from Blackburn Rovers back in 2011. Versatile and an expert man-marker, the Portuguese should be able to find greater use of the England international – representing Jones’ best chance of reviving a rapidly declining career.
LOSER – JESSE LINGARD
No United starlet epitomises Louis van Gaal’s faith in young players more than Jesse Lingard; the midfielder made his debut during the Dutchman’s first competitive fixture in charge of the Red Devils and scored the winner in his last – that superb extra-time strike in the FA Cup final. But the 23-year-old isn’t exactly your typical Mourinho player and whilst he may have a future as a defensive wideman, his central midfield berth seems certain to come to an end. That will mean less game time for the Warrington-born youngster, which could hamper his development.
WINNER – MEMPHIS DEPAY
On the surface, Memphis Depay and Jose Mourinho are a match made in hell. The former Chelsea gaffer has a knack of running wingers into the ground, whilst completely disregarding those who don’t track back like the Netherlands international. But after such an abysmal first season at Old Trafford, surely things can only get better for the former PSV star under the Special One. Likewise, Mourinho does make exceptions for world-class talent – a calibre the 22-year-old seemed destined to reach just twelve months ago.
LOSER – MARCOS ROJO
Whether deployed at left-back or centre-half, Marcos Rojo just isn’t Jose Mourinho’s type of defender. The Argentine is more play-out-the-back than no-nonsense-clearances and lacks the physical menace that has become synonymous with Mourinho sides, possessing a notably lightweight 6 foot 1 frame. Louis van Gaal and the 26-year-old had their fair share of issues, so it’s unlikely members of the Old Trafford hierarchy will be attempt to deter the Special One from selling.
WINNER – MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN
Morgan Schneiderlin has just come to the end of an underwhelming debut season at Old Trafford but his fortunes could take a drastic upturn with Jose Mourinho at the helm. The Portuguese likes functional players and that’s exactly what the France international is, offering control in the middle of the park through his consistency in possession and defensive resilience off the ball. Likewise, Mourinho’s teams always include an anchoring midfielder and throughout the current United selection, the 26-year-old is the standout candidate.
LOSER – ANTONIO VALENCIA
Jose Mourinho has never been one for sticking square pegs in round holes, which could spell trouble for converted winger-come-right-back Antonio Valencia. Famed for his power and athleticism – and now versatility and experience – the Special One will surely find some role for the Ecuador international in his first team squad next season. But the days of the 30-year-old being the Red Devils’ resident No.2 are well and truly numbered.
WINNER – MAROUANE FELLAINI
The common consensus amongst the tabloids is that Marouane Fellaini will leave Manchester United this summer. The Belgium international has never won over the fan base and epitomises how the Red Devils have struggled both on the pitch and in the transfer market since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. But there is arguably no player on the United roster more befitting of Jose Mourinho’s pragmatic ethos than the 6 foot 4 battering ram – a physical menace of notorious aerial threat who pops up with the occasional goal. Something tells me the Portuguese will keep hold of the former Everton star for at least another season.
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LOSER – MARCUS RASHFORD
Whilst Louis van Gaal may have been daring enough to stick with Marcus Rashford as his first-choice striker next season, Jose Mourinho has always refrained from taking a punt on a promising young player, especially when they’re spearheading the attack. In other words, the 53-year-old is certain to splash the cash on a big-and-burley centre-forward with a proven record at top level this summer – Everton’s Romelu Lukaku particularly coming to mind. Although that won’t spell the end of Rashford’s incredibly promising Old Trafford career, it will see him bumped down the pecking order a place or two.
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WINNER – WAYNE ROONEY
Make no mistake about it, Jose Mourinho is a huge Wayne Rooney fan – something he made more than clear when attempting to sign him for Chelsea back in summer 2013. Whether the England international will be deployed as a striker, a No.10 or a central midfielder next season remains to be seen but possession the kind of gritty spirit Mourinho adores, he’ll surely continue his United captaincy under the Special One.
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