Jose Mourinho appears to be creating a problem with Manchester United fans that is not there
Supporters themselves have been left more than a tad bemused by his comments since the goalless draw at Liverpool
FROM the outside, you might think there is a problem brewing between Jose Mourinho and the Manchester United fans.
Yet the supporters themselves have been left more than a tad bemused by the whole thing.
Yes, there were some boos when Marcus Rashford was subbed on Saturday in the game against Spurs.
Hardly ear-splitting, and it was more out of frustration as Rashford had looked the best bet to score.
How claims reached Mourinho’s ears before his TV interviews that the boos had been directed at Romelu Lukaku remains a mystery.
I think much unwarranted criticism after the goalless draw at Liverpool might still be gnawing away.
There was another stout defence of Lukaku in the press conference ahead of this game with Benfica when nobody had booed him or criticised him.
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He described him as ‘untouchable’ to make it very clear how highly he rates him.
Then, there was this pay-off line in his programme notes: “I hope you enjoy the game more than some of you did against Tottenham.”
He seems to be creating a problem that really isn’t there.
But is he just playing a clever game to get a better atmosphere at Old Trafford, because he clearly thinks it should be better.
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He used the programme notes a few games into this season to suggest the noisiest fans must be on holiday.
He has turned to the crowd before from his technical area and gestured as if they are sleeping.
Let’s not forget Sir Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane have famously had their say in the past.
Mourinho, like Fergie, just loves to have things crackling along on and off the pitch.
Sir Alex always used to claim the media were against him when no single manager has had more praise in football history.
It created a ‘them against us’ which he thought helped to galvanise his team just a little more.
Mourinho, too, at the end of last season was upset at criticism of him going for the Europa League rather than top four in the Premier to get into the Champions League.
The majority of us saw the total wisdom of it and the detractors were very much in the minority.
And his standing with the fans? Anyone who saw him stand in front of them after that Europa League final win can have had no doubt of the affection they have for this boss.
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It is huge. They have faith in where he is taking them — back into contention for the very biggest prizes.
As for last night’s atmosphere? These group games never do it particularly when one team is already well on its way into the next stage.
Come the knockout stage, Old Trafford will come alive.