Mourinho’s Future on the Line at Old Trafford

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Having finished second in the Premier League last season, Jose Mourinho and Manchester United were expected to kick-on and mount a challenge for the title.  It seems that challenge is already over and now the Red Devils have the Champions League remaining as their best hope of a major trophy this season.

On Tuesday night, Manchester United welcome Valencia to Old Trafford and the pressure is for Mourinho to get not only a good result but a positive performance. Will the La Liga club put another nail in the coffin of the Manchester United manager?

Manchester United made a good start in the Champions League by defeating Young Boys 3-0 away from home.  Having weathered some early pressure from the Swiss, Manchester United scored the opening goal of the game and took control to take maximum points.

However, trends show they have failed to win a game since and Manchester United have been held at Old Trafford by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League and Derby County in the League Cup.  Manchester United were eliminated from the League Cup on penalties.

On the weekend, Manchester United travelled to West Ham United and slumped to a 3-1 defeat in a poor performance.

On a positive note, trends show Manchester United have won ten of their last thirteen home Champions League games, scoring in all but one of those games.

Valencia recovered from a slow start to the season by defeating Real Sociedad 1-0 away from home in La Liga on the weekend. It was their first win of the season, having failed to win any of their previous eight games, one of which was in the Champions League.

However, trends show Valencia have been tough to beat and they have lost only one of their seven games in La Liga, picking up five draws.  Perhaps their biggest disappointment of the season came in their first Champions League match.

Playing at home against Juventus, the visitors had Cristiano Ronaldo sent off and Valencia seemed in pole position to take maximum points against the Italians.  However, some poor defending and questionable refereeing decisions saw Valencia concede two penalties, both of which were converted.  Valencia missed a penalty of their own late in the match.

Valencia have won just one of their last five away Champions League games which was at Lyon back in 2015.

Team news and Manchester United are still without defender Marcos Rojo but it appears every other player is fit and available.  It is tough to predict what Mourinho will do following the game at the weekend but some changes are expected.

Valencia travel with a doubt over Santi Mina but midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia should be fit to start having played on the weekend.

This is big match for both teams and it will be interesting to see what the atmosphere is like at Old Trafford.  Manchester United will be favourites with the bookmakers but any nervous tension inside the stadium could see Valencia leave with a point.