Why Jose Mourinho saw that Manchester United's biggest threat this season was not Manchester City or Chelsea
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Jose Mourinho cut a more modest figure than usual as he say in Washington last summer.
He made sure not to make any bold proclamations that Manchester United would return to the top of English football, report the Manchester Evening News .
He instead vowed to 'work hard' during a time of great evolution in the Premier League .
And that was hardly textbook 'Special One' fodder.
But behind his words Mourinho’ was methodically addressing the what he considered to be the greatest obstacle to his next credible title challenge.
(Image: REUTERS)
On the back of the lowest Premier League finish in his managerial career and his collapse at Chelsea, he had identified the common thread in both of those campaigns.
Seven games in and things have gone almost perfectly to plan.
While the fixture list appeared to hand United a dream start - for Mourinho, it immediately saw him confront what has become his Achilles heel.
In his eyes, these opening weeks will have spoken volumes of his side’s title credentials.
Quite apart from the challenge of the big five, it was the growing power of the middle tier in the English top flight that Mourinho targeted during his summer planning.
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In the age of the latest TV rights deal there has been a new threat to the established elite.
And Mourinho has felt it more keenly than most.
The current £8.6bn deal struck for Premier League rights kicked in ahead of his first season in charge at Old Trafford.
The effects of it and the promise of such riches were being felt earlier than that.
The newfound wealth has coincided with Mourinho’s worst period - in league terms - managing on these shores.
(Image: AFP/Getty)
Having led Chelsea to their third title in two spells under him in 2015, his reign unravelled spectacularly as greater wealth democratised power in the top flight.
In his final months at Stamford Bridge he watched as his side lost seven times against teams that had finished seventh or below in his previous title-winning campaign.
They were also held by Newcastle - relegated that same season.
Having become accustomed to bullying the lesser lights with Roman Abramovich’s backing, Mourinho was caught out by the greater distribution of wealth.
Likewise in his first season at United, when a title challenge was undermined by dropped points against Watford, Burnley, West Ham, Stoke, Hull, Bournemouth, West Brom, Swansea and Southampton.
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Which is why he has embraced victories against West Ham, Swansea, Leicester, Everton, Southampton and Crystal Palace so enthusiastically this term.
Rather than questioning what will happen when United come up against their expected title rivals like Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham, Mourinho has been encouraged that he has addressed the vulnerability that cost him so dearly at Chelsea and in his first year at Old Trafford.
But for the draw at Stoke, it would have been the perfect start.
And compared to the corresponding fixtures last season, United are already six points better off, having collected 19 points, as opposed to 13.
Should they continue that ratio they would be looking at a 101-point season.
Not even Mourinho could allow himself to dream of such figures - but in these early stages of the campaign, the ‘hard work’ he spoke of in Washington has paid off.