Manchester United: Jose Mourinho is pulling a “Wenger” with FA Cup insight
FA Cup: The Only Chance for a Trophy? For the final four teams involved, yes it could very well be just that.
The FA Cup has lost its appeal over the last decade. With the massive influx of television revenue entering the Premier League, a deep FA Cup run is no longer a major priority for any of the teams in The Top Flight of English football.
However, it is still a trophy. Tottenham haven’t won a competitive trophy since their League Cup victory over Chelsea in 2008. No matter how well they do in the Premier League, it’s unlikely that they will ever win the league.
A trophy like the FA Cup presents one of their only realistic chances of bringing silverware home. But they’re not the only ones. The FA Cup also represents an avenue for a manager to potentially save their job.
Arsene Wenger has been on the precipice of sacking since 2014, but when the shouts of #WengerOut have reached their loudest, he miraculously gets Arsenal to win the FA Cup and receive a contract renewal.
That is not the case this year, but that is a template for top managers to follow when they are on the hot seat.
Including, Jose Mourinho.
Man Utd will consider sacking Jose Mourinho if Tottenham win FA Cup semi - report - https://t.co/tQb2IHUf8a https://t.co/2PHtDfX624 pic.twitter.com/KflwmOHjNA
— Manchester United (@ManUtd24x7) March 21, 2018
Next: Liverpool's progress biggest statement by Klopp
Mourinho’s “Wenger” ploy
Having been manager for three years, Manchester United fans are becoming impatient with Mourinho.
They currently sit in second place behind a historic Manchester City team, they did not defend their League Cup title, and they crashed out of the Champions League in the first knockout stage against Sevilla.
Mourinho does not promise aesthetically pleasing football, he promises results and trophies, neither of which have come this year. While all indications show that the Man United board is fully behind Mourinho, a season where they do not win anything could end up being his death sentence.
He is in a similar position that Arsene Wenger has been in for the last four years. However, that is not to say that even if Mourinho is able to win the FA Cup and secure Champions League qualification that he will still have a job next year.
One only has to look back at his predecessor Louis Van Gaal who did win the FA Cup and United qualified for the Champions League only to get unceremoniously fired.
Jose Mourinho after being knocked out of the #UCL: “Liverpool has the Champions League but they don’t have the FA Cup.”
— Liverpool FC News (@LIVERPO0L_NEWS) March 13, 2018
Is this guy for real 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/61F9mYkBkK
Next: 100 things to see at the World Cup
I can see it now:
— Ashley Watts (@AshWatts93) March 18, 2018
Reporter: Jose, what are your comments after losing the final of the FA cup?
Jose Mourinho: Well, we were playing away from home, it was unfair, Spurs had the advantage from the start.
Everyone: It doesn’t count as a trophy for Spurs as they played at home.
What’s Next?
Manchester United face Tottenham in the semifinals of the FA Cup, with both teams vying for that elusive trophy.
Both failed in the Champions League and are looking for their only chance at a trophy this year.
It will be an interesting battle of desperate teams in a year when trophies are even more at a premium than ever before.