Jose Mourinho is starting to look more like the Special One that arrived in England back in 2004.

His Manchester United side are playing scintillating football and they look like genuine title contenders. The players are playing with plenty of confidence and a lot of that is down to Jose trusting and backing his squad.

Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini are two stars that typify the spirit that United are currently playing with and they have impressed due to Mourinho’s trust in them to follow his instructions.

Both Mata and Felliani would have questioned their futures at Man United when Jose was announced as the ‘Red Devils’ new gaffer in the summer of 2016.

Spanish maestro Mata had dealings with the Portuguese boss during their days together at Chelsea. The international attacking midfielder went from being Chelsea’s player of the year and being a Champions League winner to being bombed out of Stamford Bridge after Jose decided he didn’t really fit into his plans in London.

While everyone and their dog would have told Belgian big-man Felliani that he wasn’t Jose’s type of player. He didn’t seem to do enough to warrant a place in the team and he had struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford since his £27.5m move from Everton in 2013.

Both players were linked with moves away from the club and journalists and fans alike were convinced that neither would get a proper chance under the new regime.

But that wasn’t the case and Jose has actually made the two a big part of his plans at Old Trafford.

Mourinho relies on Mata to bring composure to the team as he can be trusted with the ball at his feet. Last seasons the Spaniard played in twenty-five Premier League fixtures and had an average 89% passing success rate.

He was a player that was called upon in the biggest of games because he followed instructions and he offered a great outlet with his vision and craft. His ability to find space in the opposition’s half is a quality every forward craves to have!

This term, Mata has started six out of the seven league games and he came off the bench during the other fixture. He managed to grab his first of the season in the weekend’s big 4-0 victory over a struggling Crystal Palace side.

Mourinho likes players with a winning mentality, who will listen to him and who can make an impact with their experience in the big games and Juan Mata offers all that.

Mourinho has since opened up about how Mata has adapted his style at United and how that has improved their relationship.:

“Mata has adapted to the football I want to play. I knew since the beginning he would be an important player.

“I think he feels that confidence in me, that confidence in the game we want to try to play. So, he is happy. He is happy on the pitch and you can see it the way he plays.”

It’s a slightly different situation for Belgian midfielder Fellaini.

If everyone is fit then chances are Marouane will find himself on the bench when a game starts. Yet that doesn’t mean that Jose doesn’t rely on the strongman because when it counts and the team needs something to change or to keep things tight, it’s Fellaini that gets the call from his manager.

You’ve seen it time and again during this campaign when United are in search of a goal or are looking to hold onto a lead, Mourinho flings on Fellaini. That shows you the respect that the United boss has in his player.

Fellaini offers big presence in either box and he’s also ideal at winning headers for flick ons in the middle of the park. His peers hate playing against him and that’s a big sign that he’s doing good things for his team. He’s a player who brings an edge and he’ll work hard for his teammates and his manager.

The Belgian has seen more game time since Paul Pogba’s injury and he has repaid his gaffer’s faith in him with four goals in all competitions this season and with two man of the match performances in his last two outings. The seventy-six times capped battler has even won over the majority of United supporters.

Mourinho seems to love him:

“He had to be a strong character. He is a fighter, a guy with lots of pride and I am really pleased I helped him reach this level and change the perception the fans have now. I’m really happy for him.”

Both Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata have been given chances by Jose Mourinho and both have taken those opportunities with great aplomb. They are key for Jose’s plans to become more successful at Old Trafford this season.

They offer vast experience, a strong work ethic and the ability to carry out the manager’s instructions. Others in the Man United squad should look at their example and follow it, if they want to get in Mourinho’s good books and more importantly break into his starting line-up!

Posted on October 2nd, 2017 by scott
Filed under: Article