After Manchester United’s elimination at the hands of Sevilla on Tuesday night, many will be questioning what has gone wrong with Jose Mourinho’s men.  DEAN WORKMAN explores.

It was the manner of their Champions League exit that left fans disappointed. After a 0-0 first-leg draw, United knew that a victory at Old Trafford would see them through to the quarter-finals. Mourinho’s men would have backed themselves at home, which has become a fortress under the Portuguese manager.

The Red Devils have conceded just seven goals all season at Old Trafford and only Manchester City has left the Theatre of Dreams with a victory. So after a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over Liverpool last weekend, who could envision a Sevilla victory?

United, however, put in yet another abject display; it appeared as if there was no game plan, no philosophy – a group of individuals with no real cohesion or identity and not for the first time this season.

This was typified by two of United’s star men in Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez. The two form an important part of Mourinho’s team, which he has spent a reported £300-million on in the past four transfer windows. Both players are world class and have shown it on occasion, yet they look disjointed and out of position. They always seem to be trying to do too much with the ball instead of combining with their teammates.

United may have a team packed with quality individuals, but Mourinho has not found the right system and formula to get them playing as a team. That’s exactly what football is: a team sport. We saw it with Leicester City’s title-winning campaign, that a great team will overcome individuals every day.

However, there have been obvious improvements at United since Mourinho took over. Last season he won silverware, while this season he only trails a special Manchester City side in the league and remains in the FA Cup. The Red Devils already sit just four points behind last season’s final tally of 69 and look poised to finish second, but they still don’t inspire the same confidence and presence of the Manchester United of old.

Until Jose Mourinho manages to find a way of playing that best suits his players, United will continue to lag behind Europe’s elite.

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