Friday 8 April 2016 10:33, UK
Jose Mourinho has been touted as Manchester United’s next manager ever since leaving Chelsea but now it’s Mauricio Pochettino earning Sir Alex Ferguson’s praise. The success of Louis van Gaal’s youngsters is beginning to change the role requirements, writes Adam Bate…
Louis van Gaal has found himself in the peculiar position of writing his own job description. Under intense pressure late last year, winter turned to spring with the Dutchman clinging on as Manchester United manager. Hope of a top-four finish just about endures. And with it, Van Gaal is busy re-framing the requirements of the role come the summer.
That's bad news for Jose Mourinho. For as the season draws to a close and thoughts turn to the composition of the squad for next season, one thing becomes abundantly clear - it's the development of Manchester United's young talent that will be near the top of the agenda.
The sight of Sir Bobby Charlton celebrating the club's 1000th Premier League goal at Old Trafford will have stirred emotions for supporters. Timothy Fosu-Mensah, all energy and endeavour, fashioned the opening for Anthony Martial to turn the ball home. It's just the latest moment to enjoy that's been provided by the younger members of United's squad.
Marcus Rashford, relatively unknown as the pressure built on his manager over Christmas, is now central to the club's plans after netting five goals. In defence, it's about Cameron Borthwick-Jackson not Marcos Rojo now. Once again, supporters' eyes have been opened to the possibilities. After all, this remains the club of the Busby Babes and the Class of '92.
All of which helps to partially explain why the emphasis has shifted away from Mourinho, with his very particular set of skills, and instead towards Mauricio Pochettino, the man who has been the club boss for 11 of England's last 20 debutants. The Argentine's record in developing young talent stands in stark contrast to that of Mourinho.
In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Sir Alex Ferguson was effusive in his praise of the Tottenham manager. "Mauricio Pochettino has been fantastic," said Ferguson. "This lad has got the composure, you never see him ruffled and the way his team plays is a testimony to the work he is doing." The specific focal point of his praise was particularly revealing.
"The most important thing, and the most telling thing for English football, is how many young English players he has in his team," added Ferguson. "He is not afraid to play young players, he understands the advantage of young people -they remember who gave them their first chance - and they are not letting him down, they have been fantastic."
In contrast, and for all his success, bringing through young players has not been Mourinho's forte. Indeed, in his entire managerial career, from his brief stint at Benfica in 2000 through to his second spell at Chelsea ending in 2015, the Portuguese coach would be unable to form a 25-man squad of youth players he has introduced to his first-teams.
And so, with Pochettino's willingness to walk away from such an exciting project at Tottenham far from inevitable, it could yet hand Van Gaal an unlikely reprieve. For all his faults, the veteran manager, the architect of Ajax's 1995 Champions League triumph, has once again shown himself to be someone who trusts in young talent.
In February alone, Van Gaal handed six debuts to United academy players - taking the tally to 14 for his reign. The following month, he fielded the youngest line-up named in a Premier League game so far this season in the club's 1-0 win over Watford. It's been partially down to necessity given his penchant for small squads. But it's also been a self-conscious decision.
Van Gaal has admitted as much. "It is the culture of Manchester United, that is why they take me as a manager," he said recently. "You see youngsters give always spirit to the team. I have a lot of experience with that and that is also a very important aspect of my philosophy." Was this a dig at Mourinho? Veils surely do not come much thinner.
Of course, many among United's support still find themselves too disillusioned after enduring a series of insipid afternoons at the Theatre of Dreams to countenance his continuation as coach. Even as youth flourishes, there are those reporting that it is Ryan Giggs and Warren Joyce with whom a bond is being forged, not the 64-year-old Dutchman.
However, the point stands that it is Van Gaal who has afforded them the opportunity to play. And it's that fact that may yet, against the odds, sway those among United's hierarchy. He can point to his development of players. He can argue that this commitment to the club's traditions is more pertinent than ever given the current make-up of his squad.
If that conclusion is drawn and Van Gaal is retained, it will not be seen as a testament to the results achieved, but instead his ability to rewrite the job description even while he faltered. In doing so, the man in possession might just be fostering enough doubts in Mourinho to parlay the last vestiges of belief in his methods into securing a third season at the helm.
