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COMMENTARY: Is that it? Is this what awaits Manchester United this season? A manager dark and shot. A half-empty stadium. And fans have hopes for 17 and 18 year olds?
OK, okay, there are circumstances to explain that. The context. But when this lot on the road celebrates a summer expense of £ 175m. A fresh world record for a goalkeeper. Two midfielders scored better than anything they had. And a manager who is talking about going 'to go' this new season, even the most optimistic of United supporters must feel a little uncomfortable.
In the past, the contrast between Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool manager and Jose Mourinho has been exaggerated. There is an anti-Mourinho bias in the media. Pandits burned by the manager of United have actively blocked for failure.
But this preseason. Indeed, this week. The difference between the two men. Even both clubs. Is like night and day. Klopp bounces. Liverpool bounces. Naby Keita already flies in pre-season. Fabinho talks about their chances of title. And Alison Becker chose Anfield on Real Madrid for the next stage of his career. Three players to improve on a team good enough to reach the final of the Champions League. Three players signed and sealed Klopp's A List. A trio boasted to turn Liverpool into a true champion of the title
But at Old Trafford, Mourinho is "worried, very worried", concedes he "everything is bad, very bad". This mentioned context can be applied, with Mourinho overseeing a tour team in the United States, rid of his World Cup players – and his two summer signing. Well, we say two but in the world of Klopp and Liverpool, it is barely one and a half
By the very admission of Mourinho, Diogo Dalot arrives from Porto as "one for the future". & # 39 ;. Oh, and he was also signed wearing a knee injury. So no full preseason for the fullback. Indeed, he did not expect that he would kick in anger before September
As for Fred, the former midfielder of Shakhtar Donetsk, the prospects do not are only slightly better. The Brazilian made the Tito World Cup team but did not play – apparently – because of an ankle injury. A claim that was denied by physio from the Selecao team last week. That Mourinho gives Fred two extra weeks off, although he sees no action in Russia, only adds to the darkness of it all.
"I'm not going to say that someone comes or nobody comes," Mourinho could offer the rookies before their 1-1 draw against Club America last week: "I really do not know."
So no Keita to light up the place, not Alisson to shake the conference rooms across Europe.
The place is winding, United, unlike Liverpool, seems meaningless … Even the announcement of Antonio Valencia's Mourinho as new club captain – in foreign land – was a tepid and delicate affair. The captain was Valencia last season. I think he's going to be the captain, "shrugged the manager's shoulders. And when he does not play, we have to make decisions – it depends on who's on the ground. If [Chris] Smalling is, or if Ashley Young is, or if [Ander] Herrera is, or if [Juan] Mata is, if they are on the ground, they are an option. "
So, basically," we do not care … "Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane … and yet, now it's the parcel. .. Whoever wants it …
It's this feeling of indecision that has enveloped the opening game of Club America. Manchester United, the richest club and the most popular in the world, could barely fill half of Arizona's stadium, where the name was enough to turn the turnstiles.Even the makers of the merchandise caught the gloom by printing out & # 39; Lakaku's misspelled shirts for the local online store.
Ed Woodward, executive vice president of the club, is now in the US The same room as his manager will help advance the transfer plans, but At first glance, it is a pre-season to forget, it's not a matter of stall, to make bold and decisive decisions. This – for this summer up to now – is the case of Klopp, FSG and Liverpool.
Woodward and Mourinho need a win. A big, big win on the market. The place is without direction. It has the features of a managed decline. If Mourinho can not provide inspiration, then Woodward has to buy it.
According to current statistics, United can not expect anything from the new season.
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