Jose Mourinho and Manchester United are bringing happiness to the Liberty Stadium on Sunday, or at least more of it.
The United boss says the club’s turnaround is emotionally-based, and that the cupboard certainly wasn’t bare when he took over the Red Devils last summer.
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United finished fifth in the Premier League last season, tied for fourth with Man City and 15 points back of Arsenal. Mourinho’s men sit in the same spot this year, but are in the semifinals of the Europa League, have won the League Cup, and have the door open to the Top Four.
So what’s different? Here’s the boss, from the BBC:“I think Mr. Van Gaal left a good group of boys with very good relations between them.
"[But] I think they missed happiness, they missed trust, belief, this extra bit that brings resilience, brings fight and they have it [now].”
It’s been a bit of a roller coaster with the Bastian Schweinsteiger and Luke Shaw drama, but -- like any new manager -- Mourinho did have to sort the club. Now we wonder whether he’ll keep it happy or hit a traditional rut by Year Three (assuming he gets there, and United should be very good next season).