Jose Mourinho’s expression summed up the sentiment of many upon watching Ashley Young bag his second stunning strike of the game against Watford, his second even better than the first. Indeed, there won’t be many goals better than the one the winger-turned-full-back whipped into the top corner of Heurelho Gomes’ net on Tuesday night.
But this wasn’t exactly a fluke. Young has enjoyed a career renaissance in recent weeks, becoming Mourinho’s first pick at left back. Not so long ago, the 32-year-old was a peripheral figure at Old Trafford. His contract is up at the end of the season, with Chinese and MLS clubs already lining up a move for the England international. As a top level operator, he was perceived to be all but finished.
Now, he is a cornerstone of the Manchester United team challenging Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table. He has filled something of a problem area for the Old Trafford side, demonstrated by his performance at Vicarage Road. It wasn’t just that he scored two stunning goals. He was an outlet throughout, even showing a defensive side that has been added to his game over the past few weeks and months.
Of course, some will rightly point out that Young’s transition into the player he is today started under Louis Van Gaal. It was the Dutchman who first spotted his potential as a wing back, but Mourinho has refined that talent, turning him into an out-and-out full back. The Portuguese has taken an under-utilised member of his squad and turned him into an asset.
That’s what Pep Guardiola has done with a number of his Manchester City squad. Kevin de Bruyne’s potential was always obvious, but the Belgian has become arguably the best player in the Premier League this season. John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi look completely rejuvenated by the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich. City have made a number of expensive additions, but Guardiola has also made the most of what they already had.
2⃣ goals against his former club
1⃣ happy man!
@youngy18 is tonight's #MUFC Man of the Match!
He has been the subject of much adulation for this. Footage of Guardiola coaching Raheem Sterling in a training session over the summer went viral this week, showing how the Catalan takes a personal interest in his players to achieve improvement. Mourinho perhaps doesn’t take such a personal interest in his squad, but he is just as effective at achieving improvement, even if so may refuse him that praise.
Young’s rise this season is illustrative of this. Mourinho has moulded the 32-year-old into one of the most effective left backs in the English game right now. The former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan boss is often criticised for relying on the chequebook to build title-winning teams, and he has undeniably spent a lot of money over the course of his time at Manchester United, but equally, he has achieved marginal gains in many of the players he found at the club upon his arrival.
It might well be the case that Manchester City run away with the Premier League title, way ahead of their city rivals United. Guardiola’s side are on course for an historic season, winning 12 of their opening 13 fixtures to start the 2017/18 campaign. All of the above isn’t mean to deny Guardiola the praise he quite clearly deserves. It’s just to point out that if the Manchester City boss is being held aloft for what he is doing, Mourinho warrants much of the same adulation.
