Former Manchester United striker and coach Brian McClair has suggested that the club’s current manager needs to adopt a less negative approach for the coming season. The Portuguese, who took charge of the club in the summer of 2016 and has taken the club to three finals since, has come under fire for a plethora of comments during United’s pre-season tour of the United States, and the former Scottish player, who scored 127 goals over the course of eleven seasons at Old Trafford believes that the former Chelsea boss cannot continue with this current attitude whilst in charge of the club.
“There has to be a balance,” McClair told BBC World Service Sport.“You should, at some point, look as though you are enjoying it. It is fine to be critical, upset and happy – Sir Alex had those moments too, but there were several times where he looked very happy.
“Jose maybe enjoys himself internally but from a football point of view, the Manchester United fans would very much welcome to see him smiling and laughing at appropriate times. From an opposite view, your great rivals have been Liverpool and they have a coach (Jurgen Klopp) who does laugh and smile and look pleased to be there. That must grate as well at times if you are a United fan.”
McClair certainly has a point; Mourinho has cut a frustrated figure in the last few weeks, and whilst there should be some patience with him due to the club’s current inability to deliver the signings he requested several months ago, he has made himself few friends with his approach to the situation. This has included criticising Antonio Valencia’s condition before the Ecuadorian was injured in the States, pushing for Anthony Martial to return to the tour just after the birth of his second child and complaining about the lack of available players after the World Cup.
Hopefully, with the new season almost here and United now looking at a healthier squad with several stars set to return, the manager’s mood will improve.
