Predictions for 2018/19 Season
By David Crook
Mourinho’s anti football has at times seemed almost old-fashioned in comparison during the last season and this may prove to be the case again, especially against a greater number of openly attacking teams.
Mourinho’s side is powerful and muscular and capable of grinding out results and also equally capable of producing moments of real attacking flair. Surely, Alexis Sanchez must take the opportunity to sit up from the piano stool and impose himself. Paul Pogba will be able to control a game and manage his performance as well as he can manage his haircuts.
It’s fair to say there are some gaps remaining in the side built by Mourinho so far especially at centre back and parts of the midfield have looked pedestrian. As it stands United’s opening eight matches allow them the opportunity to put some points on the table and it will be an interesting illustration of how far the team has come.
Other than an August game against Spurs at home none of those first eight fixtures look tricky for last season’s runners-up, although I feel a special mention should be made of their end of September home game against Wolves, a team I suspect are more than capable of finishing the season in the top 6.
They will welcome England, Belgium stars and Pogba back from their World Cup duties shortly before the season begins, so a lot of emphasis will be put on Sanchez’s shooting boots and Juan Mata’s creativity early on. Plenty of more attacking signings will be required should United want to challenge for the title and the Champions League.
The signings of Fred and Diogo Dalot will likely strengthen Mourinho’s ‘shut up shop’ mentality with the addition of the Brazilian possibly releasing the shackles of their most expensive signing, Pogba.