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Jose Mourinho Is Slowly but Surely Turning into His Biggest Rival, Arsene Wenger
- Updated: December 8, 2016
With every blow dealt to Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United, Arsene Wenger must surely afford himself a smirk. The Arsenal boss isn’t an especially spiteful person, but considering all that his great Portuguese adversary has slung his way, it’s understandable that the Frenchman might feel a twinge of smug vindication at his struggles this season.
The Premier League’s fiercest, nastiest managerial rivalry in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson is one based on the duo’s inherent dislike for one another. Mourinho makes a point of positioning himself as the anti-Wenger, a man he once famously labelled as “a specialist in failure,” as per BBC Sport. He is the antithesis of the Arsenal boss, and he makes a point of reminding us of all that every so often.
However, Mourinho can no longer paint himself in such a way. While the Portuguese could once make a case to support his argument, the evidence he can provide as Man Utd manager is less than convincing. In fact, Mourinho is turning into Wenger with every passing game and every reaction he gives to every disappointing result.
Sunday’s draw against Everton means United have won just three of their last eight matches in all competitions, leaving them just one point ahead of West Bromwich Albion in sixth place in the Premier League table. With more than a third of the campaign now complete, the 2016/17 season isn’t going how Mourinho hoped it would.
Although, he is doing his best to create a post-truth narrative of his own, to borrow a word that has entered the political lexicon in 2016. Time and time again Mourinho has claimed his side are playing well, even if results aren’t reflecting that. He stuck to the script once more after the draw at Goodison Park on Sunday.
“Another game with a very good performance in a very difficult place to play, a very emotional stadium against a team with very good players,” he attempted to reason after conceding a late equaliser, as per Jamie Jackson of the Guardian. “We are playing very well at home, super-dominant. …
