José Mourinho needs no introduction to the Premier League. As a multiple-time league winner with Chelsea, the Portuguese boss may not appear to have anything to prove but this scenario is only on a superficial level. As big as a club Chelsea are, Manchester United are even bigger and potentially on the same level as Real Madrid if not for the multiple Champions League trophies in the Spanish club’s cabinet. Mourinho spent three years at Madrid and won the league title once. His time in the Spanish capital has largely been seen as a failure despite managing to pip a legendary Barcelona team to the league title.
If one has to nitpick, Mourinho does not seem to fit into the ethos at a big club as he is more comfortable at being the big fish in a small pond. The Portuguese could change this mentality altogether by winning the league title in his first season at United. It would be a major achievement considering the club’s dramatic decline since the exit of Sir Alex Ferguson. Of course, Mourinho has spent almost £150 million on new players in the summer but it was also the same kind of fee at the disposal of Louis van Gaal; the Dutchman did not come close to winning the league in his time at the club.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s position is completely different to that of Mourinho. The Swedish striker has won trophies wherever he has been, but there is always a suspicion in England about the lack of a FIFA Ballon d’Or award and a Champions League medal. Yet, there have been some great players who have finished their careers without winning either of these titles. They alone are not the yardstick to determine the quality of a player.
For the sheer charisma and the quality that he brings on the pitch, Ibrahimovic ranks as one of the best players in the last decade. Even though there have been comparisons with Mourinho’s signing of Samuel Eto’o – an ageing superstar arriving on a free transfer – when he was at Chelsea, they have quickly gone out of the window with his impeccable start to his career in Red. If Ibrahimovic manages to build on his three goals from two league outings, he may very well lead the club to greater heights.
Both Ibrahimovic and Mourinho can lay down a marker to the Premier League this season.