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Are Man Utd sacrificing style for substance with Mourinho?

Are Man Utd sacrificing style for substance with Mourinho? There’s little doubt that Jose Mourinho means business at Manchester United.

His first press conference as manager of the Old Trafford outfit was vintage Mourinho and the Special One had the gathered press eating out of the palm of his hand from the very first word.

Angry, feisty, clever, manipulative….yes, all the usual traits were given an airing during 30 minutes of pure football theatre.

Loathe him or love him, there’s no denying that the Special One is box office, and perhaps that’s been just what the Red Devils have been lacking these past few years.

David Moyes’ appointment was, in hindsight, a terrible error of judgment, and Louis Van Gaal, despite impressive credentials, is yesterday’s man.

The Portuguese is very much in the present, and if his opening gambit is anything to go by, United’s demanding fan base won’t be too disappointed.

However, there has to be a trade off.

Mourinho’s win at all costs mentality will quickly seep into the psyche of his playing staff, and Juan Mata will understand more than most what’s coming for those men who will line up as his first squad for the 2016/17 season.

The Spaniard could even be quickly dispensed with after Zlatan Ibrahimovic was handed Mata’s number 8 shirt – as sure a sign as any that the ex-Chelsea manager will sell the player for a second time.

In any event, the siege mentality that United’s new man-in-charge desires is at odds with the club’s modus operandi of free-flowing, 100 mph attacking football.

Incessantly winding up opponents, harassing referees, committing needless fouls and getting up the noses of just about everyone is central to the Mourinho doctrine.

Yes, his Real Madrid still hold the record for the most goals ever scored in a La Liga season and they also share the record total points haul with Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona, however there’s no escaping the fact that Jose-led sides will stop at nothing to scale the particular peak set before them.

Results aside, it’s the off-field damage that is likely to be done which could hurt United.

A substance over style ethic that cannot be lauded from a club that always intends to conduct itself in the most exemplary fashion.

The football gods decreed that Pep Guardiola would pitch up just down the road and his battles with Mourinho in Spain are already the stuff of football legend.

It’s also worth noting just how badly the latter came out of those particular duels in a PR sense.

Ultimately, Jose Mourinho will be judged for what his players do on the pitch and whether United truly now have a manager capable of taking on Sir Alex Ferguson’s mantle and putting silverware in the trophy cabinet.

But to do so at any cost runs the risk of ruining the club’s immaculate reputation and that simply can’t be allowed to happen.

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