Has the Mourinho gamble paid off?

Reds took a risk appointing Mr Blue

Manchester United held on to edge out La Liga side Celta Vigo on aggregate to reach the final of the Europa League. A massive effort for The Red Devils, and one that strengthens their push for Champions League football next season. They’ll now face Ajax in the final.

A great result, and fantastic for English football, but when stripped back to the bare result it was another low-scoring draw United fans had to endure, as manager Jose Mourinho continues to change the very mindset of the club.

The board at Old Trafford raised a few eyebrows when looking to Chelsea legend Mourinho to lead the club back to the glory days. It was a gamble, and one they could ill-afford to lose following the post-Fergie years, but has it paid off?

Draws stunting United’s progress

The drama of the Sir Alex Ferguson days are gone. During the Scotsman’s famous era Manchester United became a major force in European football, and could never be written off with any real confidence, renowned for scoring late winners in ‘Fergie Time’. Not now, under Mourinho they are a lot more difficult to beat, and a lot less exciting going forward.

There can be no doubt the Portuguese legend has steadied the red ship, but they go into game 36 of the season with a record reading 17 wins against 14 draws and four defeats. No side in the current top-four has lost fewer matches, leaders Chelsea losing five, City on six. That’s further evidence, if fans needed it, of what could’ve been if the side were a bit more ruthless in the final third.

Failure to finish

That 1-1 with Celta Vigo was their 11^th even finish of the year. Eight of those have ended in a two-goal draw, ending that way against Stoke, Bournemouth and Swansea. Each saw United pass up a number of clear-cut opportunities to win the match.