I didn't want Jose Mourinho as Manchester United manager. Actually, that's not entirely accurate. I did want him, before Moyes. But after, I felt we were entering a cycle of new manger every couple of seasons and I don't (and didn't) want that for Manchester United.
Following Fergie was so hard almost no-one could have done it, except Mourinho. His attitude, confidence, some would say arrogance and his star quality would have meant he'd be unfazed by following the greatest manager we've ever seen and one of the greatest the game has ever seen. I thought Jose would come in, keep the ship afloat, keep the trophies coming in and then be gone in three years, as he always was.
So when it first looked as if Van Gaal was going to be on his way out, and incapable of delivering the style or substance demanded by the Old Trafford crowds, speculation mounted as to who should be following. This was where I didn't feel Jose was the answer. This felt like the beginning of this cycle of just blowing through managers.
But as I explored the options of who was available, there weren't any standout candidtates. I didn't want anyone, not Pep, despite what the Blues have edited together and not Mark Hughes, for those who only read headlines and not full articles. I'd said no one was the standout.
After Christmas and as January moved into February, though, I warmed to the idea of Jose. We needed that fear factor back and I felt, if nothing else, he could do that.
He has started off brilliantly. He's addressed the things we, as fans, saw wrong with the team, he's come out and said he wants to win everything, he's won every game we've played so far and he looks different. There's a different feel about him as United boss.
He's (so far at least) kept the circus away and he seems all business. So I'm happy to hold my hand up and say I think I got this wrong. I am liking (not loving, yet!) Mourinho as our manager. I'm excited to see where he can take it. Yesterday marked his 100th day in charge. This is well worth a watch, see what those 100 days consisted of, from Jose's point of view.
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