The reactionary world of football, particularly pertaining to managers, had little to react to as Manchester United easily dispatched Stoke City 3-0.
Anthony Martial dazzled again, Wayne Rooney’s revitalisation is complete and Juan Mata’s energy in starting attacks had the Potters on the back foot from the opening exchanges. The question begs: where has this performance been all season?
This was a welcome result at what looked to be a potential ‘banana skin’ fixture. The easy manner in which the hosts attained the result was similar to United’s equally simple 3-0 demolition job over Tottenham last March.
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For the second season running, United have waited until the latter months of the season to produce a performance of true quality. The Dutch manager’s motivational powers, at least in the case of his time in Manchester, are most potent when his position is under threat – his philosophy questioned.
Often criticised for a perceived dire style of play under his watch, the scrutiny around Louis van Gaal’s tenure has got the manager addressing his future at each press conference.
A stoush between Sir Alex Ferguson and a journalist, a media organisation, opposition coach, player or FA was never too far away. It kept the fiery Scot hungry, and Wenger echoed this sentiment, saying the rivalry was good for him and Ferguson, as well as good for both clubs.
Speculation, however, has not affected the squad. After four straight losses in December, some bookmakers went as far as paying out on the Dutchman being the next manager sacked, expecting a club announcement to confirm the fact in the coming days.
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Despite this promising result, it is unlikely that van Gaal’s men will lead the league’s style stakes, and will probably come in for an avalanche of fresh criticism, warranted or otherwise, between now and the end of May.
“Everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife at home,” Arsene Wenger famously said in 2002, in response to Sir Alex Ferguson’s suggestion that his Manchester United outfit was still top dog and played the most attractive football, despite Arsenal completing a league and cup double.
The nonchalant nature of the Frenchman’s riposte outlined the fact that he did not need to enter a verbal joust, because the damage had already been done – Arsenal were champions. Aesthetics did not matter, as the season’s goal was reached.
As well as this relaxed manner, Le Prof seemed to understand Ferguson’s desire to put a proverbial arm around his playing group when spirits were low, having finished the season 10 points adrift of their rivals, as well as being knocked out of the Champions League on away goals by Bayer Leverkusen a fortnight prior – a tie that United were heavily expected to advance from.
Throughout this rivalry, the plan of attack was varied. Ferguson attacked Wenger personally, bemoaned refereeing decisions that went Arsenal’s way, criticised the players, and generally went out of his way to complain about anything and everything, thus creating a persecution complex to motivate his players – an environment in which his squad excelled. Ferguson and Wenger’s deliberate ploys to be as divisive as possible were something both understood to get the most out of their respective dressing rooms.
Mirror this fued with van Gaal’s jousts with the media. His side has visibly improved on two occasions after duels with newsmakers. Wenger and Ferguson enjoyed their most fruitful years as in charge at one another’s throat.
There have been no such verbal slanging matches with Jurgen Klopp, or Manuel Pellegrini – managers of United’s two greatest rivals. While Ferguson would take exception at a crooked blade of grass, van Gaal has distanced himself from what was deemed to be unnecessary conflict.
The lack of mongrel in this current United side has been dissected a thousand times over and put down to footballing reasons, mainly van Gaal’s deficiencies. Perhaps it is the lack of a natural enemy.
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