Being the ultimate pragmastist that he is, it will come as no surprise to most of you to witness Jose casting the league aside in favour of the Europa. "winning 2 games is easier than winning 4" he said. logical, sensible and most definitely a no-brainer, right? Well yes and no. What if, lo and behold, we fail to win it? The board, the fans and the players themselves will be furious. "it was your call Jose, you gave up on the league and you failed to deliver the EL cup and with it a CL spot" they will say. What then? I mean, let's be honest, managers have been sacked for less. I'm not sure if I believe he will be sacked, or even that he would deserve it, but he most certainly must take responsibility if we fail to win.
Liverpool were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Southampton today in what could only be described as a mediocre performance. They were flat, motionless and without ideas, a generally poor football team all round. But Jose, who would have been well aware of their performance and result, still decided to put out a hugely weakended team, essentially handing the 3pts to Arsenal and conceding 4th spot in the process. Against his most bitter of rival Wenger no less. Despite everything, before the game had even kicked off, United were still well in with a shout of reaching top 4, it was still in our own hands lest we forget, but Jose, Mr Pragmatic himself, decided the Europa was the safer option. Brave or stupid? I don't know. But I do know this, I'm glad I don't have to make decisions of this magnitude that carry such huge implications.
I'm not sure how I feel about the decision as to me, a United fan, giving up the league in favour of a Europa cup win is unprecidented and it feels entirely unnatural. Perhaps it's something I need to get used to given the circumstances. Either way, Jose has taken a risk today, if his plan of winning the EL at the expense of finishing top4 - when it was still perfectly feasble to achieve - fails to come to fruition, would a sacking be warranted?
Liverpool were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Southampton today in what could only be described as a mediocre performance. They were flat, motionless and without ideas, a generally poor football team all round. But Jose, who would have been well aware of their performance and result, still decided to put out a hugely weakended team, essentially handing the 3pts to Arsenal and conceding 4th spot in the process. Against his most bitter of rival Wenger no less. Despite everything, before the game had even kicked off, United were still well in with a shout of reaching top 4, it was still in our own hands lest we forget, but Jose, Mr Pragmatic himself, decided the Europa was the safer option. Brave or stupid? I don't know. But I do know this, I'm glad I don't have to make decisions of this magnitude that carry such huge implications.
I'm not sure how I feel about the decision as to me, a United fan, giving up the league in favour of a Europa cup win is unprecidented and it feels entirely unnatural. Perhaps it's something I need to get used to given the circumstances. Either way, Jose has taken a risk today, if his plan of winning the EL at the expense of finishing top4 - when it was still perfectly feasble to achieve - fails to come to fruition, would a sacking be warranted?