Manchester United: 5 mistakes Jose Mourinho has made already

1. Formation

The formation Manchester United are currently playing does not suit the team. It definitely does not suit, in particular, new signings Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkihitaryan. The arrival of both players brought excitement to United fans, but on their showings so far, you would be forgiven for wondering what all the fuss is about.

Primarily, Mkhitaryan is a number 10. A playmaker who likes to get on the ball often, and then score and create goals for his team. So far the Armenian has either been played as a right winger by Mourinho or left on the bench.

This is one of the best players in the Bundesliga last season we’re talking about. A player who contributed 11 goals and 15 assists to Borussia Dortmund from a central area. Why would you play him on the right flank? Why even buy him?

And then there’s Pogba. You know him, right? The guy who plays high up the field, making runs beyond the opposition’s back line, aiding the link-up play around the penalty box and just generally being a constant attacking threat in the final third?

No? Not seen him? No, nor Mourinho, apparently. Pogba plays in a two-man midfield these days. France tried him there in Euro 2016, too, and it didn’t work. All it did was stifle his attacking talent. In fact, it stifled him so much that Mourinho decided to do the same in the Premier League.

Now Pogba looks similarly subdued with more defensive work occupying him than anything else. Pogba needs to play in a forward position as a number 10 or in a three-man midfield with license to roam.

Passing, tackling and defending are not the Frenchman’s best qualities, so why have him do those things? Release him to burst forward and be the player you bought in the first place. The current setup doesn’t suit Pogba or Mkhitaryan.

And when they cost a combined £116 million, you would probably be wise to set the team up to get the best out of them.

Next: Captain fantastic?