‘Missing piece of jigsaw needed’ – Three things learnt from Manchester United’s 2016/17 campaign

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Mourinho leading United in the right direction

Although a sixth-place finish in the Premier League doesn’t exactly scream out success for a side as big as Manchester United, Jose Mourinho is beginning to build something promising at Old Trafford.

His additions during his first transfer window at the club were big, statement signings, bringing in the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and although it is only the veteran Swede who has shone this season Mkhitaryan and Pogba have shown massive amounts of potential.

Perhaps his most impressive addition has been the immense figure of Eric Bailly who has made the position at the heart of United’s defence his own, adding a bite and fire yet a sense of discipline too.

Add to this the young blood that the Manchester United boss has allowed to grow in the side through the likes of Marcus Rashford – who has been a stand-out player all season – and Jesse Lingard, along with the four debutants given an opportunity against Crystal Palace, and the future looks particularly good.

And it’s not just this, as the Portuguese boss has seemingly got the best out of players that looked like deadwood in Louis van Gaal’s side for the past two years; Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Ander Herrera and Antonio Valencia have all come into their own under the management of the ex-Chelsea man.

Finishing in sixth-place will immediately suggest that United’s progress has merely stagnated in recent years, but EFL Cup and potential Europa League success shows that Mourinho’s tendency to lift silverware has not left his side and that – given one more summer – they will be ready to challenge.