If you are following the Premier League, the title of this article probably reminds you of Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany and his goal against Leicester City, but this article is about the other half of Manchester. Watching Manchester United’s season unfold, and listening to various pundits (you know the lot), raise their concern over the lack of leadership in the squad, made me wonder about the importance of experienced individuals in a squad and their impact. Before I get into it’s relevance, I have to say that there are several other factors that have led to United’s undoing this season (they have kinda been plummeting towards the Earth since Sir Alex left) – lack of harmony in the squad, Mourinho losing control over the dressing room and then demanding respect in public (that “..it’s 3-0..” press conference), and that whole Paul Pogba fiasco. But I feel some situations could have been avoided had there been a character like Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, (again you know the lot).
Unlike his previous teams, Mourinho did not have a leader in the Manchester United squad who could effectively communicate with the rest of team and make sure everyone is on board or on the same page. Wayne Rooney was around and so was Michael Carrick and things were still under control (I mean the man did win a double in his first season). Clearly letting Rooney go was a mistake – he still had the legs (that tackle and pass at DC United – explains it all), but lack of playing time under Mourinho was the primary cause for leaving. John Terry on the other hand, under former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte had limited playing time as well, but was still influential as a role model and an adviser to his younger teammates as they went on to win the Premier League trophy. On Rooney’s arrival to Everton, former coach Ronald Koeman mentioned that his experience will be key for the younger players to develop. As crucial as it is for young players to develop, it is also vital to have experienced players and leaders in the squad to keep tabs on everything. When Steven Gerrard decided to leave Liverpool, Brendon Rodgers acquired the services of James Milner – because he is an individual who had Premier League experience and was a champion. United right now do not have that personality in the dressing room who can hold players accountable or is even a role model. Don’t get me wrong an experienced player need not be an old player or an experienced player need not even have to be the club captain – Virgil Van Dijk is probably the best example for such a role, he leads by example and holds both himself and his teammates accountable for their actions.
Manchester City have the perfect model for any club to follow (bitter pill to swallow as a Liverpool fan). They have able leaders like Vincent Kompany (who has now left Man City), Fernandinho, Fabian Delph who make their voices heard and ensure that everyone is doing their fair share, as well as players who lead by example – David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero who may not be the loudest but are perfect role models for the younger players in the club. A club captain is someone who fans adore and plays a pivotal role with regards to communication between the players and the coach.
Manchester United need to change a few things – some believe it has to start from the brass and that Ed Woodward should not be running the football side of things, some believe the players should change their mindset and play for the club. The latter for me will continue to be a problem unless Ole decides to choose someone who actually understands the weight the jersey carries and what it means to represent Manchester United.
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