Manchester United news: Mourinho manipulates Woodward to perfection

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14: Jose Mourinho, Manager of Manchester United looks on during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on October 14, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14: Jose Mourinho, Manager of Manchester United looks on during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on October 14, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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Jose Mourinho is playing Manchester United

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has long been known as a master manipulator. He’s proven his skills again by playing Ed Woodward like a fiddle. Just hours after openly flirting with a move to PSG, The Special One is poised to receive a new contract offer from his current club.

English sources claim that Mourinho is in line to receive a lucrative offer “despite” his comments about PSG. They’ve gotten things backwards. Mourinho is in line to receive a lucrative offer from Manchester United precisely because of his flirtation with the Ligue One club.

This is yet another example of just how weak Woodward is. He’s supposed to be ruling things at Old Trafford, but this situation makes it very obvious where he is in the club’s hierarchy. Mourinho is miles above the club’s vice chairman in terms of importance to club supporters and seemingly, to the rest of the higher-ups at the club.

Mourinho’s shameless flirtation with PSG should have been met with a sharp rebuke. After all, the manager’s contract with United doesn’t end until the conclusion of next season. Talking so openly about another potential opportunity would have been grounds for dismissal at most clubs. Evidently it’s enough to get you a new contract a lucrative raise at Manchester United.

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I suppose in some ways we really shouldn’t be surprised. Mourinho has always done precisely what he wants in any circumstance. Expecting him to behave differently at Old Trafford is, in some ways, the very definition of insanity.

Woodward is also following his typical run of form. He’s been frequently criticized for failing to act with real strength in the transfer market. Expecting him to suddenly develop a backbone when dealing with Mourinho is really too much to ask.

Ultimately, Manchester United fans need to be concerned with the precedent this contract offer sets. It’s positive proof that Mourinho can cause the higher-ups at the club to jump whenever he chooses. This time it’s an issue of his contract, the next time it will be failure to splash a small fortune on the player of Mourinho’s dreams.

The point is that it’s never going to end. Jose Mourinho has taken over at Manchester United. For better or worse, The Special One is firmly in charge of everyone at Old Trafford.