José Mourinho is used to winning silverware. At Porto, he started out with two league titles, a UEFA Cup and then an incredible Champions League in 2004, on the way to whichhis sidebeat Manchester Unitedin the round of 16.

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Chelsea snapped up the Portuguese, and Mourinho was able to achieve similar levels of success at Stamford Bridge, winning the Premier League in 2005 and 2006, although repeatinghis Champions League success proved beyond him.

After leaving Chelsea in 2007 following reported disagreements with owner Roman Abramovich, José illustrated he was no flash in the pan by steering Internazionale to the Champions League for the first time in 45 years, while also adding two Serie A titles to his personal trophy cabinet.

However, Mourinho had a less successful time at Real Madrid, failing to win the tenth European Cup/Champions League title Los Blancos craved. A second stint with Chelsea started brightly, with Mourinho again winning the Premier League in 2015, but ended sourly with the majority of the dressing room falling out with Mourinho.

This brings us to the 2016-17 season, and José’s current travails. The 53-year-old is now the manager of Manchester United, hoping to resurrect the club’s fortunes after his predecessors, David Moyes and Louis van Gaal, were unable to maintain the success of Sir Alex Ferguson.

How has Mourinho done so far at Manchester United?

We know there are often ridiculous levels of expectation in football, especially in the Premier League, where every club is desperate to remain, many believe they can achieve a top-half finish and a large group think they canor expect to qualify for European football each season.

José Mourinho stated at the beginning of the campaign that he felt Manchester United should be challenging for the Premier League title this season. He didn’t say the Red Devils would finish top, but it’s clear he felt his team should be finishing no lower than fourth, thus ensuring a return to the Champions League.

At the time of writing, United are falling well short of this modest expectation. They have a modest return of 21 points from 14 games, putting them 13 points behind pace-setters Chelsea. It’s fair to say José probably isn’t amused to see his former club at the top of the table and disappearing into the distance.

Mourinho’s Manchester United aren’t winning enough matches and they’re not scoring enough goals. The recent match at Goodison Park, saw United take a fortunate 1-0 lead through Zlatan Ibrahimović, only for Everton to score a late equaliser, much in the same way Arsenal did at Old Trafford a few weeks previously.

Indeed, at the time of writing,Manchester United have drawn more games than they’ve won in the top flight this season, but Mourinho insists his team have been unlucky. Does he have a case here?

Are Manchester United out of luck right now?

"We are not getting the results we deserve," said Mourinho after that 1-1 draw with Everton. "We are getting draws, but deserving victory”.

Ultimately, football is a very simple game. Each team has to try and score more goals than the other, and when leading, the best sides will often close the game down in order to maintain that lead. The trademark of classic José Mourinho sidesis their ability to manage a game and maintain a leaduntil the final whistle.

Mourinho has always been a conservative manager, yet his Manchester United team has thrown away several leads already this season. Everton, Arsenal and Stoke City have all scored late goals against them- United’s speciality under Ferguson - and one of the reasons these have been so damaging is because United haven’t been able to score the decisive goal that kills a game off.

"Opposition are leaving the stadium super happy with points they don't deserve, and we are leaving the stadium with a feeling we deserved more,” said Mourinho.

It’s a tough argument to support. Whether he feels his side deserves more from each game is a moot point. The Red Devils have scored two or more goals in just four of their 14 top-flight games to date this season, a statistic that goes a long way towards explaining why they’ve not racked up the points that would see them challenging Chelsea at the top of the table.

A running tally of 19 goals in 14 matches is not enough when compared to 32 scored by Chelsea, the 33 notched by Arsenal and the 35 bagged by Liverpool. The latter’s defence has conceded 18 goals, yet theyare still nine points better off than Manchester United.

Why aren’t Manchester United scoring enough goals?

"When my teams are playing pragmatic football and winning matches and winning titles, you say that is not nice and not right," Mourinhohas said.

"Then my team play very well - and [that] is a huge change to the last two or three years [at Manchester United] - now you say what matters is to get the result no matter what”.

José is no stranger to conflict. He will regularly fall on his sword in press conferences and take journalists to task in a bid to protect his players. After the recent Everton match, there were plenty who needed protection, such as Marcos Rojo, whose two-footed lunge on Idrissa Gueye merited a straight red card, and Marouane Fellaini, whose clumsy challenge against his former club gifted the Toffees a late penalty.

Defensively, United could be a lot sharper; they miss Eric Bailly, who hasn’t played since sustaining an injury in his sides 4-0 hammering at Stamford Bridge. However, it’s the attacking element ofUnited’s play that requires closer scrutiny.

Zlatan Ibrahimović arrived at Old Trafford to massive fanfare, with Paul Pogba, arriving for a world record transfer fee from Juventus, another signing that had the football world purring. It wasn’t difficult to make a case for United doing well, with Mourinho having coveted the manager’s job at the club for a long time.

However, this United team is not scoring enough goals in the Premier League. Their goal at Everton came from a goalkeeping mistake rather than any creativity from a Manchester United player. They could only manage one goal at home to a West Ham United side who were trounced 5-1 by Arsenal the following weekend.

Against the Gunners, they dominated, but could only find the net once, while newly-promoted Burnley shut them out completely and landed a goalless draw at Old Trafford.

It’s all very well scoring four goals against Feyenoord and Fenerbahçe in the Europa League, but that’s only happened once in the Premier League this term, against the struggling champions Leicester City, who couldn’t deal with a wave of first-half United attacks, their defending from set pieces being particularly poor.

Ibrahimović has kept up his end of the bargain, scoring 12 goals in all competitions, but Anthony Martial, who made such an impact last season after his arrival in January, has only managed to find the net once in the Premier League, while Marcus Rashford has been in and out of the side despite making a similar impact to Martial last term.

Does Mourinho need more time at Manchester United?

"In this moment we have teams getting results that defend with 11, kick [the] ball and attack the space on the counter-attack. It is phenomenal, it's beautiful.You have to make a decision."

Mourinho seems to have been taking a pot shot at his former Chelsea side here, vexed as he’s very likely to be to see Antonio Conte inherit a squad he seemed unable to inspire or motivate last season and turn them into title contenders.

When the sides met at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, Chelsea handed Manchester United a hiding that started with a Chris Smalling mistake; the Blues never looked back as they triumphed 4-0, humiliating their former gaffer.

At the final whistle, Mourinho took umbrage with Conte for the way he celebrated the fourth goal with the Chelsea supporters, and it was clear the green-eyed monster had reared its head, the quote above being a pointed reference to the way his former club fashioned a win at Manchester City last weekend.

All is not well at Old Trafford under Mourinho, but the January transfer window is just around the corner, so perhaps the he will be able to make some changes to a squad who aren’t delivering for him at the moment.

During his most successful moments with Porto, Chelsea and Internazionale, Mourinho had trusted lieutenants on the pitch who would fight tooth and nail for their manager. Didier Drogba was so loyal to José that he threatened to resign from Chelsea after it emerged Mourinho had left the club in 2007.

Does Mourinho command that level of commitment from his United players? Wayne Rooney is very much all about Wayne Rooney as his career winds down, while Pogba is seemingly cut from similar cloth, and is perhaps weighed down by his price tag; how many games has the Frenchman really influenced in a red shirt so far?

However, it should be remembered that José hasn’t inherited a team of champions. If he’d directly succeed Ferguson, perhaps things would be different - Mourinho may have found it easier to maintain Sir Alex’s success, rather than start all over again

However, Moyes’ brief reign and the odd Van Gaal regime, which ultimately saw the team relying on rookiesMartial and Rashford for goals, have left the team, squad and even the club disjointed.

Has modern football overtaken Mourinho?

José Mourinho arrived in English football in 2004. The Premier League looked a lot different back then. Chelsea were newly-rich thanks to Abramovich, while Manchester United and Arsenal had battled it out for the title for much of the previous ten years

Clubs like Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur weren’t considered serious title challengers, and Mourinho inherited the foundations of Claudio Ranieri’s strong Chelsea side on which to build a team that won league titles with machine-like efficiency.

Twelve years later and things have changed immeasurably. While Arsène Wenger remains the manager at Arsenal, the club is slowly but surely re-emerging as a tile contender, while Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City all have successful, highly-regarded managers. Tottenham Hotspur are a force under Mauricio Pochettino, having challenged for the tile last season.

All this means Mourinho has to find a way of competing against new methods of coaching and ways of playing.It’s perhaps not enough for the Portuguese to rely on the steely mentality and defensive resolve of his most successful sides and look to take the lead then close the game down; even sides near the foot of the Premier League are now capable of giving the top sides a game on their day.

There are also signs Mourinho has become more negative as the years have worn on. Modern-day top-level football requires managers to massage the egos of the star players, put an arm around their shoulder on a daily basis and tell them how great they are, but Mourinho increasingly seems willing to criticise his players in public.

Mourinho built much of his legacy on the siege mentality he was able to create in his best sides, but the way he spectacularly lost the dressing room at Stamford Bridge the season after landing a Premier League title suggests his power could be waning, in that regard at least.

Qualifying for next season’s Champions League is absolutely vital for Manchester United if the club wants to attract more superstars like Pogba and Ibrahimović; others will only follow if they can play elite European football on a regular basis.

Perhaps the best chance Manchester United have of making next season’s Champions League is by winning this season’s Europa League, but whether Mourinho is prepared to take the competition seriously, even while his side remain outside the top four of the Premier League, remains to be seen.

“Lukaku can beat Ronaldo’s scoring record in season one. It would be a big statement, personally for Romelu and the team as well. It would mean a lot and obviously mean they are in the race for the title. We are just in October and a lot can happen until the end but he can carry on.”

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With seven goals from his opening seven league games the towering Belgium is already well on his way to reaching that magic target but it’s not only the in-form striker who is scoring for fun this term at Old Trafford: Mourinho’s men are running riot with an average of three per game and eight more than at this stage last year. 

“I’m not surprised to see a more attacking Manchester United side because I was privileged to follow the team during their pre-season US tour. From day one in the training sessions and in the first game you could see the change in attitude when in transition. There was clearly a desire to go forward and spend less time in possession. So it’s only natural that the production of football is more entertaining. It is a surprise though the amount they are scoring because the Premier League is a tough league so I’m delighted to see that.”

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“Rashford’s impact is not far off Wayne’s"

A significant factor in United’s new-found potency has been the continued rise and rise of their teenage superstar Marcus Rashford. Having witnessed first-hand the phenomenal impact made by a young Wayne Rooney in the mid-2000s does the former French international believe comparisons can be made?

“Rashford’s impact is not far off Wayne’s. I think in terms of maturity Wayne was a little more advanced but quality wise and in his mentality and the desire to work hard while staying humble, Marcus is the same.”

“I love the fact that he’s taking free-kicks. That means a lot. He is surrounded by more experienced, technical players but he’s stepping in which shows that behind closed doors he’s working on them and has the respect from everyone from the manager down in his ability. At 20 years old to do that is a big testament to his character”.

 

"United have a chance this year to win the Premier League"

Speaking of character Manchester United are going to have to dig into their reserves – both figuratively and literally – in the months ahead following the shock news that Paul Pogba is expected to be out of action for some considerable time. Silvestre however points to a beefed-up squad that is now strong enough to cope with adversity.

“It’s a big blow. On the back of a decent season last year there was so much expectation for Paul to have a full, strong season. It will have an effect on the squad and results because he’s the best number 8 at the club. Now they have to rotate Fellaini, Mata, Matic, Carrick and Herrera and that’s why United have a chance this year to win the Premier League. The depth is there and that’s why it was so important to sign Matic this summer”.

The summer swoop for the Serbian midfielder has taken on even greater value this past week with Marouane Fellaini joining the treatment room queue after suffering ligament damage while on international duty. Was the supporters’ despondent reaction to the news proof that he has now won over the Stretford End faithful?

“We’ve heard many times that Marouane is not a Manchester United player but what is a Manchester United player? It’s one that works hard and never gives up and that’s what he does. He’s proven his doubters wrong because he is committed and had an impact. He is showing his passion and that’s what the fans recognise. The fans aren’t stupid, they see that the guy doesn’t give up and all credit to him.”

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“If I was a Liverpool fan I’d be more worried about strikers facing their defence than United"

If United’s attack is firing on all cylinders and their midfield is coping with key absences their defence is also deserving of plaudits having conceded a miserly two goals so far in 2017/18. Silvestre is quick to praise but readily admits they have not yet been properly tested, a situation that will surely change this weekend as they face a Liverpool forward line that is becoming known in some quarters as the ‘Fab Four’. Then again, perhaps not.

 “They are good players but hardly world class yet. Over the course of the ninety minutes you would expect them to make some chances because they are talented but there is not one goal-machine from Salah, Firmino, Mane or Coutinho. They are missing that clinical player because at the end of the day it is this one you have to be worried about, the one you expect to finish 20-25 times a season. Liverpool doesn’t have one yet. United are going to be tested but I think they can control these guys.”

“If I was a Liverpool fan I’d be more worried about strikers facing their defence than United. Especially Lukaku and Rashford. The problem with Liverpool is when they lose possession they do not protect the back four so they are exposed to one- v-ones on many occasions. That’s because they expend so much energy going forward as a unit.”

This weekend’s ‘M62 derby’ is one of the most frenetic and enthralling fixtures in world football, a local dust-up that never fails to keep even neutrals on the edge of their seats for ninety intense minutes. Having experienced the unique occasion at close quarters several times over during his nine years at United how does Silvestre look back on those intimidating visits to Anfield?

“You feel like you’re going to hell. You are not welcome and you can feel the hate for sure. It’s a hostile environment and it’s a good occasion to see how you react in adversity. It’s the best place to win games.”

***

Mikael Silvestre’s quickfire questions

Score prediction for Liverpool v Manchester United 2-2.

Who will win the Premier League? United.

Who will win the Premier League’s Golden Boot? Lukaku

Who will win the Champions League? Madrid can’t do it again. Barcelona.

***

Mourinho as Cersei Lannister?! Game of Thrones characters in Football world

Former Manchester City and Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips believes Sergio Aguero surpasses Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry and his own dad Ian as the Premier League’s most clinical hit-man.

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“There is definitely an argument that Sergio Aguero is the Premier League’s best ever striker.  If he stays fit all year that ups City’s chances of winning the Premier League and the Champions League. He’s a great finisher and he always fights hard for the team as well. I think Kun can score thirty goals easily this season. Especially in the form that he’s in now, that would be an easy mark for him.”

Expectation of such an abundance of goals is understandable, given that City are already threatening to rip up the record books, with an astonishing 16 goals in their last three league games alone.

“The difference between City now and last year is they are taking the chances they are creating. Last year, they weren’t, and the opposition would score and City found themselves chasing games. City are not conceding many goals and creating maybe double the chances than they did last year. If they keep scoring from those, it’s going to be hard to stop them.”

Much of this, of course, is down to one individual, and it isn’t the Argentine goal-machine. Last term, the knives were out for Pep Guardiola as he struggled to impose his exacting vision onto English football. Wright-Phillips insists the criticism was premature.

“For me, he has proven his critics wrong. He’s now had the time to get the team that he wants, and mould them into his style of play. From the results you can clearly see what is happening.”

What is happening are transformations throughout the squad, not least from Raheem Sterling, a player who could be viewed as Wright-Phillips’ successor as City and England’s go-to speedy winger. The 22 year old’s six goals from four starts reveals a confidence that may have previously been lacking.

“Under Pep, he has improved a lot. Obviously when he was at Liverpool, they were a more direct playing team, while City play a lot more football, so to no longer just play off the shoulder he’s come to learn the game. He has settled in well after a bit of stick he was getting last year and it’s nice to see him bounce back and silence the critics. People don’t understand sometimes how mentally hard it is and he has answered them in the right way; he didn’t go out and do anything silly, but did his talking on the football pitch. Now he’s in the spotlight for all the good things.”

Elsewhere, Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has received considerable acclaim for his all-action displays and intelligent passing, with many believing he is the fulcrum around which this exciting team thrives. Wright-Phillips, however – who now plays his football in the MLS for Pheonix Rising – pinpoints an ex-team-mate as the one to watch.

“De Bruyne is unbelievable but my favourite player there is still David Silva. I had the privilege of playing with him and training with him. He just makes it impossible to get the ball off him and he sees things three passes ahead. Everywhere I’ve been and everyone I speak to speaks very, very highly of him and about what a great player he is. He’s just as nice off the pitch too.”

This Saturday the Manchester giants head to Stamford Bridge for what will surely be their sternest test yet against the champions and title contenders, Chelsea. Having played there for three years – winning the Premier League in 2006 – the 35 year old still watches their games with keen interest and is unconcerned about the perceived loss of form from their most influential star.

“Hazard will always play the same way. He has played so many games in the past couple of years so it’s only natural that he might have a little dip through tiredness but once he’s back on his feet he’s always going to play the same way, with a style that can’t be defended. He can turn a game on its head on his own.”

Any misgivings about the Blues’ squad depth meanwhile, following a frustrating summer of transfer dealings for manager Antonio Conte, receives short shrift.

“I still think that Chelsea have quite a lot of depth and they remain title challengers. Conte wanted more players but for the team that won the title last season there is not much change and they’ve added Morata who is on fire at the minute. So I don’t think they’re worrying too much.”

Having taken the Premier League by storm with seven goals in seven games Alvaro Morata has already banished Diego Costa to a distant memory for Chelsea fans. Could he now go on to become a striking legend at the Bridge in the same vein as Wright-Phillips’ present team-mate (and co-owner of Phoenix) Didier Drogba?

“I wouldn’t say that Morata is in Didier’s space now but if he keeps scoring and running in behind and creating chances for others then he’s heading in that direction because he does the same things that Didier did. He runs into channels, he creates chances, and he finishes.”

As for this weekend’s clash the 36 cap England international is anticipating open warfare from the visitors with Conte’s men choosing their battles carefully.

“Manchester City are more free-flowing than Chelsea in their passing while Chelsea are more resilient. They’re okay with soaking up pressure and hitting on the break. City like to control games and play more attacking.”

“I haven’t seen that many weaknesses with City but that’s only because they have the ball 80% of the time. But set-pieces need to be concentrated on because Chelsea are not the smallest team and they have very good qualities in that area.”

With allegiances to both clubs it would be unfair to ask who Wright-Phillips will be supporting this Saturday evening, but a clue is offered up when he’s asked how much he’d enjoy playing in this present City side, under the studied gaze of Guardiola.

“It would be a dream. Who wouldn’t enjoy playing in that side especially with how they’re playing right now? Loads of attacking, goals, and it’s just fun with everybody expressing themselves. Players have smiles on their faces.”

Shaun Wright-Phillips quickfire questions

Score prediction for Chelsea v Manchester City

2-1 to City

Who will win the Premier League?

Manchester City

Premier League’s golden boot winner?

Kun Aguero

Who will win the Champions League?

PSG are going to be the dark horse

Why is the battle for a European place such a big deal?

We’re just a matter of days away from the 2017/18 Premier League starting up, with the summer of huge money signings almost concluding, so we’re going to take a look at the stacks of money on offer to Premier League teams.

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Coming up from the Championship

Starting off with entry to the top division of English football – and arguably the greatest division of domestic football in the world – teams in the Championship have the most on offer regarding revenue increase if they earn passage to the Premier League.

Last season, excluding the upcoming Premier League payments and potential income as a result, Newcastle United earned a cool £7.1 million for winning the second-tier of English football.

This is because each team in the Championship receives the same basic and solidarity reward regardless of their finishing position. The amount was also bolstered by the bonus TV payments from broadcaster Sky to show Newcastle’s games.

As was heavily covered during the Championship playoffs, the victor would receive a massive increase in revenue upon winning the knockout section of the season. Huddersfield Town won the playoff final at Wembley stadium last season, and are set to see a whopping £170 million minimum increase in revenue over the next three seasons.

First off, their placement, TV money, and even split of the Premier League TV Rights pot will earn them £95 million if they were to finish dead-last. Then, if they were to get relegated, they would get an added £75 million over the ensuing two seasons as a parachute payment.

Standard Premier League money

In the Premier League last season, Chelsea were rewarded with £38 million for winning and Sunderland, who came 20^th, were given £1.9 million for their placement.

To add to this, there was also the TV money for being broadcasted, which ranged from £13.6 million for Sunderland, Hull City, Burnley, and Swansea, up to £31.4 million for Liverpool. Then there’s the equal split of the Premier League TV rights pot, which was split into being £84.4 million to each team, regardless of finishing position.

Race for the top four

The top four places in the Premier League are the most coveted of all, as it grants passage to the Champions League. Due to the sheer competitiveness of the division, these four places are often earmarked for around six teams, so the competition is fierce.

Within the top four, the placement reward starts at £38 million for the champions and goes down to £32.3 million for the team that snuck into fourth.

Regarding TV money, as you would expect, the top teams get a bit more than most other teams. Last season, money from the top six teams – Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester United – ranged from £27.6 million to £30.4 million, with the next closest team being Everton at £21.1 million.

Now, being Premier League champions also adds a significant boost to the amount that the team is shown on TV.

Take Leicester City for example. After their incredible title winning season in 2015/16, they earned the most TV money of any team outside of the top seven with £19.2 million in 2016/17, whereas their title winning campaign only garnered them £12.8 million due to fewer of their broadcast games.

However, Leicester went in with a somewhat bog-standard number of games set to be shown when they shocked the Premier League, whereas Chelsea are already a top team, so their TV money won’t see as much of an increase, but they will likely have a couple more of their games televised.

Now, the reward that all of the top clubs strive for: qualification to the Champions League. The top three go straight into the Champions League group stage, and fourth place enters into the playoff round.

It’s very rare for a Premier League team to not make it through the playoff round, so – speaking generally – the Premier League top four will receive an added £10.59 million for making it to the group stage.

With the merit pay for their placing, their TV money, the £84.4 million in even split of the TV right money, as well as the qualification to the Champions League group stage, top four teams earn upwards of around £160 million.

Competing in the Champions League

In recent years, Premier League clubs have struggled to perform well on the Champions League stage, with many citing how competitive the English league is – especially compared to the huge lack of competition in the other top leagues of Europe – as the problem.

But there is still big money to be won along the way...

So, playing in the group stage will bring in £10.59 million with each win adding another £1.31 million and each draw adding £440,000. For reaching the round of 16, teams are rewarded with £5.25 million, and then further progression to the quarter finals gets £5.69 million.

The semi finals bring in £6.56 million, and whichever team falls short in the final gets £9.62 million in consolation cash. Then, the winners of the Champions League take home a mighty £13.56 million, with a team who were perfect in the group stage and won the competition being able to earn a total of £50.05 million.

But the winnings don’t simply end there; the Champions League champion also gets to play in the Champions League next season, regardless of domestic league placement, and will feature in both the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. The Super Cup winners receive £3.63 million, with the runners up getting a decent £2.72 million.

When it comes to the FIFA World Club Cup, it’s very rare that the Champions League winners don’t walk away with the silverware.

Since its inception in 2000 – but not running in consecutive years until 2005 onwards – the Champions League victor has won the competition in nine of the 13 tournaments, including each of the last four, and has been in all but one final. So, with history all but guaranteeing a top two place, that’s another £3.08 million for coming second or £3.84 million for a win.

Europa League holds value

It’s not as lavish as the Champions League, but the Europa League still serves its purpose. In fact, leagues all over Europe covet the second-tier tournament despite the majority of Premier League fans turning their noses up at it.

But last season, Manchester United proved its worth by using it to qualify for the Champions League despite coming sixth in the Premier League.

In monetary terms, Europa League doesn’t bring much to the table compared to the other big competitions, with the winner of the entire tournament getting £5.9 million from the final – earning up to £14.3 million for a perfect group stage and tournament win.

But it’s all about the qualification to the Champions League to bring in at least another £10.59 million for being in the group stage. On top of that, the Europa League winners also get to face off in the UEFA Super Cup against the Champions League winners for either £2.72 million or £3.63 million.

Just base earnings

All of the TV and placement money for competing in these elite football tournaments does make up a fair chunk of a club’s earnings, but then there also aspects such as sponsorship deals to consider.

For example, Manchester United reportedly won an extra £22 million bonus from Adidas for winning the Europa League.

With upwards of £205 million available for achieving a domestic-Europe double as well as winning the two bonus competitions – not even accounting for the sponsorships and domestic cups – there’s no wonder why the top teams battle it out every year to get to the Champions League and spend huge sums to do so. 

The qualifying rounds are over – it is now time to get down to business. The group stages of the 2017/18 Champions League begin this week and plenty of football fans from across the continent will be expecting their side to go far in the competition this season.

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Unsurprisingly, Real Madrid are the current favourites to retain the trophy after winning the competition in each of the last two years.

However, 2016/17 beaten finalists Juventus may also be worth a glance in the betting markets at what is an appealing price at this moment in time.

Without further ado, here is my view on the eight groups and who may be worth backing ahead of match day one...

GROUP A

Manchester United will be quietly confident of finishing at the top of Group A after what can only be described as a favourable draw.

Benfica and Basel are capable of slugging it out with the big boys but neither should offer too much resistance. As for CSKA Moscow, the trip out to Russia is a worry but United should get the job done.

TIP: Manchester United to win the group @ 2/5

GROUP B

A trickier one to call. Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain will both fancy their chances of securing top spot and rightly so.

The Bavarians are one of Europe’s most successful clubs but PSG are on building something special. Expect Celtic to have one or two memorable nights at home whilst Anderlecht may be the whipping boys.

TIP: Bayern Munich to win the group @ 9/10

GROUP C

Again, another difficult group to predict. Chelsea may be favourites but Atletico Madrid are a different beast in the Champions League and the Spanish side could edge it.

Roma were unlucky to be drawn into such a tough group but could test both sides whilst Qarabag won’t be easy to beat on home soil either. Atletico are the ones to back for me...

TIP: Atletico Madrid to win the group @ 27/20

GROUP D

Barcelona aren’t the Barcelona of old and Juventus are well worth backing here. Opposing the Spanish giants may seem silly but Massimiliano Allegri’s men will be desperate to make a statement as they look to reach the European showpiece once again.

Sporting Lisbon and Olympiakos may find it tough going in what is another strong group.

TIP: Juventus to win the group @ 13/10

GROUP E

Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool will fancy their chances of gaining revenge on Group E rivals Sevilla after losing to the Spanish side in the Europa League final a few years ago.

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The Reds have been strong in attack but lack defensive stability – they should be good enough to top the group though. Neither Spartak Moscow or Maribor should cause too many problems.

TIP: Liverpool to win the group @ 3/5

GROUP F

Like Chelsea, Manchester City were drawn into a fairly tough group. With Napoli, Shakhtar Donetsk and Feyenoord, Pep Guardiola’s men will be put to the test but they should have enough strength in depth and quality in key areas to advance as group winners.

It might go down to match day six but City are a decent bet here for me.

TIP: Manchester City to win the group @ 11/20

GROUP G

Take your pick in this group – Monaco, Porto and RB Leipzig are all capable of finishing at the summit. Besiktas could struggle to keep pace if they suffer a couple of defeats early on and this may be Monaco’s to lose.

The Ligue 1 champions have lost a number of key players but may be strong enough to edge what is arguably the most competitive group.

TIP: Monaco to win the group @ 6/4

GROUP H

Last but not least, we have Group H – and this is Real Madrid’s to lose. Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur are both decent outfits but Zinedine Zidane’s side are a class above their opponents.

APOEL Nicosia will be the whipping boys in the group and Real could finish top with relative ease if Dortmund and Spurs perform below par.

TIP: Real Madrid to win the group @ 21/50

Today, the world is smaller than ever. Thirty years ago, if anyone found a West Bromwich Albion fan wandering around New York, people would have flocked to the nearest grocery store to tell the owners that a barcode was missing from the shelf.

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These days, nobody would bat so much as an eyelid, and there would even be the possible bonus of someone identifying the team – albeit hilariously mispronounced.

With thousands of people born and bred in the UK moving abroad, it is not always possible for people to make it to the big match. Some people are, however, fortunate enough to find themselves in a country where their team is highly regarded.

With that in mind, here are twelve bars across the world, into which fans of certain clubs would likely integrate well.

Arsenal

L'annexe, 3 rue Felix Faure, 06400 Cannes, France

France is still the first and most obvious destination for any Gunner. Arsene Wenger is well-known as a pioneer of continental coaching techniques in English football, and has always looked to his home country for the finest talents.

Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Olivier Giroud have, in particular, given the North London club a very real presence in France over the years. Now, Alexandre Lacazette is ready to strut his stuff in the famous red and white.

There is always a drama these days at Arsenal, and it is easy to forget that the Wenger era has brought the club three Premier League titles, all of which were won with consistently classy displays.

As such, the fact that this bar is situated in Cannes – of film festival notoriety – and on the beautiful French Riviera, makes it the perfect stomping ground for a visiting Gunner!

Chelsea

The Monk Pub, Vlamingstraat 37, Bruges 8000, Belgium

Even though he has recently spent much time on the injury table, Eden Hazard is still considered one of Belgium’s finest sons.

In light of Chelsea selling Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, some banter must be expected between yourself and the locals.

Of course, what really matters when watching Chelsea’s beautiful game is having a beautiful drink in your hand to complete the effect, and Belgian produce is as good as it gets.

With Trappist brewing as the overriding theme, amidst a multi-screen bar, the Monk Pub has rave reviews from sports fans.

 

Everton

La Moneda de Oro, Avenida Bernardo o'Higgins 1252, Valparaiso 2352354, Chile

Founded in 1909 by Anglo-Chileans, and named after the famous English club that had just toured Sotuh America, Everton de Viña del Mar play in the Chilean Primera Division.

In 2010, the sibling sides played each other at Goodison Park, with Everton FC winning 2-0. However, the real winners on that night were the Chilean visiting fans, who gained the adulation and respect of their English counterparts by packing the away section and drumming fervently all night.

Although Vina del Mar itself is a great gambling resort in Chile, sports bars are few and far between. Luckily, just an 8km jaunt down Avenue Espana, is the neighbouring city of Valparaiso.

At La Moneda de Oro, travellers are spoilt for choice when it comes to sports, with multiple events playing out simultaneously.

Leicester City

Premier Sports Bar, Ko Samui, Surat Thani Province, Thailand

Even though Leicester City were comfortably one of the worst defending champions in living memory last season, the relationship between Leicester City FC and the Kingdom of Thailand is as watertight as ever.

Without the divine interventions and shrewd employment tactics of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the Foxes would still be as they were nearly a decade ago – floundering in English football’s third tier as opposed to being the subject of football’s greatest miracle.

This bar is likely to have a good number of expats, and it boasts every western refinement imaginable.

Wearing a Leicester shirt inside a sports bar, or just about anywhere, in Thailand is now akin to wearing a pair of 24-carat shoes.

Liverpool

Healy Mac’s, Jalan P. Ramlee | Crown Regency, No.12 Ground Floor, Kuala Lumpur 50250, Malaysia

As big as Leicester City are in Thailand, Liverpool FC is paramount to a figure of worship over in Malaysia.

With a devoted Malaysian Reds section on LFC TV and an array of social media pages for Malaysian fans of Liverpool, the club and country are set to be entwined for as long as it is "Liverpool’s year"...

Situated right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Healy Mac’s is Irish-themed and homely – and, apparently, “overrun” with television screens, ensuring that nobody’s vision is obscured.

 

Man United

The Living Room, Cathal Brugha St, | Dublin 1, Dublin, Ireland

Though ardent Red Devil worshippers would assert otherwise, there are in fact more Manchester United supporters in Ireland than supporters of the Irish international football team.

If you are a Manchester United fan, then you will be in good company in just about any sports bar in Dublin, whenever Mourinho’s men are in action.

However, this joint has been described as a “fantastic sports bar”, and with people spoilt for choice in Dublin, that is no mean feat!

Man City

Blue Agave, Rua Vinicius de Moraes 68, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Ten years ago, the very idea of a true Brazilian maestro at Manchester City was a laughable prospect. Then came the money, provided initially by Thaksin Shinawatra, which saw free kick specialist Elano arrive and make an instant impact.

Today, with Danilo, Ederson, Fernandinho and Gabriel Jesus all playing a part in the International Champions Cup for the Citizens, Manchester City fans would have felt warmly welcome if watching the tournament in this Brazilian sports bar.

With a good blend of Latin flair in the atmosphere, and a multitude of screens showing events from all over the world, the mere fact that this bar is called Blue Agave should be a good omen by itself.

Newcastle

Oranje Pub, Kraljevica Marka 4 | Savamala, Belgrade 11000, Serbia

Much like Geordies on Boxing Day, Serbia’s hardcore fans have a propensity to be rowdy and topless.

There is further common ground, with Serbian striker Aleksandr Mitrovic making a return to the Premier League, after remaining loyal with Newcastle throughout the club’s one-season stay in the FL Championship.

Watching a Newcastle game on the big screen in this cosy, compact bar – with perfect reviews on Trip Advisor – will make even the craziest Toon Army "general" feel firmly at home.

 

Southampton

Aparima, 17 Orepuki-Riverton Hwy, Riverton 9822, New Zealand

Marooned firmly in the far south of England, Southampton F.C is still without a real worldwide presence. Although the efforts of Matt Le Tissier in the 1990s have made Southampton a respected entity in Jersey, that hardly counts as a territory conquered.

Nonetheless, Saints fans travel the world just as much as supporters of other clubs do.

This bar, just west of Invercargill is – quite literally – at the end of the world. However, it boasts stunning outdoor views to go with its screens, so nobody wants for a good eye-stretcher at half time.

There is no link between New Zealand and Southampton, but locals and Saints alike can find common ground in terms of their understanding of what it is to be extremely isolated.

Swansea

Bjarni Fel Sportsbar, Austurstraeti 20, Reykjavik 101, Iceland

Welsh and Icelandic football fans alike enjoyed a stellar Euro 2016.

For the past three seasons, fans in the valleys have enjoyed the sight of Iceland’s most dangerous midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson showcasing his silky skills – and rescuing the Swans on multiple occasions.

Renowned for having a “great happy hour”, the compact Bjarni Fel Sportsbar offers a close-knit experience, and it is surely a bar of choice for anyone in a Swansea shirt bearing the name ‘Sigurdsson’.

“I think it is very hard to compare the current team with the Invincibles side. Times have changed since then, the football style and mentality has changed since my time with the club. It has been ten years from one generation to another, but what I would advise them is that they must say to themselves, ‘I want to be better than that team’.  They don’t need to say it to others because it will add a lot of pressure but they must want to be close to us guys, to achieve what we achieved. They must want to write their name in the club’s history books like we did, the side that I am so proud to be a part of.”

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“They must prove this to themselves every day. This is how you succeed in football. You must give 100% every time.”

Having been beaten by Stoke last weekend, a campaign entirely without defeat is already impossible of course, but the former midfielder is not expecting such an incredible feat to ever again be replicated; simply that Arsene Wenger’s men manage to put together a sustained fight for the Premier League title. If they don’t, he fears the worst for a boss he still clearly has a great deal of admiration for. 

“If Arsenal are not challenging for the title after December, of course people are going to be upset again. I just hope it’s not as hostile as before. For me it’s a strange reaction, but I understand the situation with the fans, because it has been a long time since Arsenal won the Premier League. The fans must remember that they have still won special trophies like the FA Cup, and I just hope that this season they can change their attitude towards Wenger. For the players it is very hard when they don’t get the support from their own fans; it is hard to absorb that pressure and the expectation-level, and that has an impact on results. I feel that the team will push on in the right direction this season.”

Whatever the Brazilian version of a Rolls Royce is, then that’s what Silva was during his six trophy-laden years in North London. An industrious yet elegant World Cup winner who went by the nickname of the ‘Invisible Wall’, the 40 year old elevated the box-to-box role to a standard rarely before witnessed in English football. All of this is why his no-nonsense advice for Jack Wilshere should make the combative midfielder sit up and take note.

“It is down to Wilshere and Wilshere alone. His has great ability he knows that; everybody knows that, so he just needs to concentrate on his game. He needs to forget about what is around him, just focus on football. I could say something to him but if he doesn’t understand the importance of focus, then it is his career. He has to question himself; ‘What do I want for myself for this season and the future?’

“He has an opportunity and it’s not very often someone has the opportunity that he has. Arsene and the club are giving him an opportunity and he has to grab it.”

While the England international has grabbed the headlines for all of the wrong reasons this past week after his sending off in an under 23 game, the rest of the summer’s back pages has been dominated by the uncertain future of Alexis Sanchez. With the end of the transfer window in sight however and the magical Chilean still at the club Silva is hopeful that the protracted saga is finally drawing to a close.

“I hope Sanchez stays because it would be hard for the club to lose such a great player, after all that he’s done in the last few years. Arsenal gave Sanchez an opportunity, but of course on his side he has contributed a lot with his goals and ability. I hope that it ends well for both sides and that we keep hold of him, and it would also be a good decision for him because Arsenal are one of the biggest clubs in the world. Maybe he is considering things that we don’t know about, things from his point of view that he’s dealing with on a daily basis.”

Should Sanchez indeed stay he will form an exciting attacking duo with Arsenal’s major signing of the summer Alexandre Lacazette. Arriving from Lyon for just shy of £47m, the striker comes with all of the hype that usually accompanies such a fee, and is widely expected to be a prolific finisher once he settles in his new surroundings. Silva insists the early signs are positive. 

“Lacazette has started well in my opinion. Arsenal spent big money on him, so there were always going to be big expectations. I’m sure he is getting the support of his team-mates and Arsene Wenger but he also needs the fans to support him. If he gets that support and feels embraced, he thinks ‘okay, I am being embraced; now I must give something back’. He will do well for the club.”

Gilberto Silva’s quickfire questions 

Q: Score prediction for Liverpool v Arsenal
A: It is always hard to play at Anfield, but 1-0 to Arsenal
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Q: First goalscorer
A: Mesut Ozil

Q: Who will win the Premier League
A: I believe Arsenal have the capability to do it
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Q: Who will be the Premier League’s leading goalscorer
A: Harry Kane is in good shape but I cannot go for that side. I will go for Lacazette. Let’s put some pressure on him.
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Q: Who will win the Champions League
A: Real Madrid
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“You look at Drogba at Chelsea and Milito at Inter Milan and Higuain at Real Madrid. Mourinho likes that kind of player. Lukaku is the one though who will give him more of a challenge because he has to change his game. If he wants to play under Mourinho he has to accept that just because he worked hard in one game he can’t have a rest in the next. He’s going to have to work even harder off the ball than on the ball. He can’t play for himself and look to score goals: he has to be a team player and bring people into the game; to learn how to play with his back to goal instead of turning every time. If he does that right only then will he be a Mourinho player. If he doesn’t then in a short period of time he’ll be history.” 

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“Old Trafford has been something of a graveyard for centre-forwards when you go back over the years. There was Peter Davenport and Garry Birtles and they failed. So there is going to be a lot of pressure on him, especially when every media outlet is talking about Lukaku. If he doesn’t score early then everybody will be bringing up stats of past players who also had poor starts so the onus is on him.”

The signing of the physically imposing ex-Everton striker, along with the tall midfield destroyer Nemanja Matic, has prompted many to suggest that the 13 time Premier League champions are set to further distance themselves from the entertaining football the club were once so synonymous with. Parker believes it’s a sacrifice the younger residents of the Stretford End are willing to accept in exchange for silverware. 

“The fans know it’s not going to change. Mourinho isn’t going to set United up to play the style of football they’re known for but the football that he knows best which means they’re going to be very direct and first and foremost ensure they don’t concede goals. There are new fans now and it’s all about winning titles. They don’t really care how it’s done and they’re willing to let go of certain traditions so long as they can scream into people’s ears that they’re league champions.”

It is a compromise that clearly doesn’t sit well with Parker, a player who helped win a clean sweep of domestic trophies in the swashbuckling era of Sir Alex Ferguson. 
“It’s not that Manchester United are lacking players with the x-factor, it’s that they’re having to curtail their game under Mourinho. He stops certain players going out there and showing why they’re magic players because they have to play his style. Would Eric Cantona be a Mourinho type of player? That’s a difficult one to answer. You look at how Eric played and his personality and you feel they’d be a clash.”

The former right-back extends this line of thinking to prospective transfer targets too, dismissing the possibility of Welsh wonder Gareth Bale returning home from Spain.

“You have to wonder where Gareth Bale would play. There is a lot of talk about getting him because everyone now has to go out and get an expensive player. But you have to look at where you can fit him in to get the best out of him. Gareth likes to play through the middle: he doesn’t like that wide role he had at Tottenham and prefers to step inside. So you’d have to adjust the team. I look at Bale and wonder if he’s a Jose Mourinho type of player because he likes a lot of touches; he wants to run with the ball. At Real Madrid he doesn’t track back so that’s something else he’d have to add to his game.”

The rumours continue to pick up pace however and should the Real Madrid superstar be subject to a colossal bid the suspicion is that Anthony Martial’s days in Manchester may be numbered. For Parker it would be a departure that benefits both club and player.
 
“If anyone could tell me that they’ve seen him smile on a pitch then I’d say they must have a 200 inch television that has picked up the slightest flicker at the side of his mouth. There is nothing in him and he’s not relishing the challenge. He’s not doing enough and isn’t proactive, he reacts. You need that little bit more because he came to Manchester United with the same hype as Kylian Mbappe. He was a wonderkid, he was French, he was black, so suddenly he was the next Thierry Henry. I really don’t see him getting an advert for Renault Clio at this moment in time. He needs a change, to get a smile on his face and enjoy his job.”

On a more positive note the arrival of Matic to anchor the United midfield hints that another Frenchman may soon be beaming considerably more in the months ahead. Indeed should Paul Pogba’s attacking qualities be unleashed as a consequence Parker is expecting dabs in abundance. 

“I think we can expect a fifty per cent uptake on what he did last season. With Matic and Herrera being more holding players Pogba must be allowed to play in the positions that suit him best. Everyone saw last season he was getting frustrated and doing things he doesn’t normally do. He got caught in possession too often because he was trying to do too much. His strength lies in the final third where he can run against people one on one or get into the box.”

---

Paul Parker’s quickfire questions

Q: Who will win the Premier League?
A: Manchester City

Q: Who will win the Champions League?
A: Real Madrid

Q: Who will win the Premier League Golden Boot?
A: Harry Kane

Q: What is your score-line prediction for Manchester United v West ham?
A: 2-1 to United

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In September 2015 Kevin Davies hung up his boots on a distinguished career that spanned two decades, four leagues, six clubs, and ultimately led, at the ripe age of 33 years and 200 days, to wearing the Three Lions at Wembley.

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It made him the oldest England debutant since 1950, an honour that was unquestionably overdue after leading the line superbly for Southampton and Bolton at the highest level while banging in 123 goals in the process.

Here, the striker discusses the varying fortunes of four of his former employers but begins by revealing why a manager he shared so many memorable moments with at Bolton might soon be returning to the dug-out. 

The return of Big Sam

“Having spent a lot of time with him when I played under him - and I still see him out and about - I’d be surprised if he doesn’t manage again. He wants a bit of quality time with the family and he feels like he’s sacrificed a lot with his wife and kids and grandkids. He had the episode with England that would have affected him quite a lot but he came back with Palace and did really well.”

“He is probably enjoying himself now, doing a bit of travelling and media here and there, but he’s one of those guys who needs it; it’s like a drug to him. You see Harry Redknapp over at Birmingham, he can’t leave it alone, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Big Sam does the same after some time out. I remember when the call came from Sunderland his wife was saying ‘I think you’ve had your time’ but he just couldn’t resist it and there is always going to be an opportunity in football.”

Bolton are back

After steering Bolton to a Premier League top six berth in the early 2000s it’s fair to say that neither Allardyce nor Davies need ever buy a pint in the town again. Since then though the Trotters have hit hard times meaning promotion back to the Championship last May was a huge fillip for a club in financial peril.

“There’s always the fans who will want a bit more after seeing Huddersfield do it and the likes of Norwich and Southampton achieve back-to-back promotions but considering what’s gone on at the club these past few years just a bit of stability is needed now. Most people would take 21st place if offered because they still have an embargo on them and there is a salary cap too which will limit the quality they can bring in.”

Even with such intimidating restrictions in place however Davies believes his former side has just cause for optimism. 

“They’ve sold 11,000 season tickets so there will be plenty of fans backing them this year and it follows a great year just gone. To bounce straight back from League One is not easy and I’m really impressed with Phil Parkinson and his staff. Bolton are hard to beat and they’ll come into this season feeling they can compete.”

The saints and a sinner

As so often seems to be the case Southampton’s summer has been dominated by potential departures, in this instance Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk. As someone who still holds a deep affinity with the south coast club what does Davies make of it all?

“It just seems unsavoury. Clearly the player wants to go and Southampton are taking a stance which they have every right to do as he signed a new contract not so long ago. It needs to be resolved sooner rather later though because it looks inevitable that they’re going to sell him at some point. The club has done really well in the past bringing in players at the right time then selling them on but I know there are a lot of fans who would like those players to stay. That is so difficult when the big clubs come calling and maybe it’s the right move to sell him if they triple their money on him. With the model they have at Southampton they will have been planning this for months, years, and will know how best to reinvest that money.”

It’s a pragmatic response yet still the annual exodus that takes place at St Marys contrasts so sharply with the unity that was prevalent when Davies enjoyed two successful spells there.

“At Southampton we didn’t really have a lot of superstars: we were hard-working players who enjoyed training and each other’s company. We’d be out at weekends together having a few drinks. It was a proper changing room. We had characters like Carlton Palmer, John Beresford and David Hurst - old-school players - so no-one was allowed to go off on one and be Big-Time Charlies. I’d liken it to Wales at the Euros where they did so well without having any proper superstars other than Bale.”

“We had some good players of course. Matt Le Tissier was obviously the most naturally gifted player I’ve played with alongside Jay Jay Okocha. Marians Pahars was a natural finisher and they loved him down there. There was my partnership too with James Beattie” 

A new chapter at Deepdale

The recent appointment of ex-Norwich boss Alex Neil bodes well for another of Davies’ old clubs though he is quick to dampen any talk of possible promotion for Preston North End. Instead he insists that fans can look forward to watching football that is more pleasing on the eye. 

“What Alex Neil will inherit is a hard-working team with good team-spirit. The Preston fans were perhaps a little bit reserved with Simon Grayson because the football was more defensive-minded where things were kept nice and tight then we looked to get something on the break or from a set piece. So it may be a better style of football for the fans to see.”

Was he surprised at Grayson’s leaving for the vacant position at Sunderland?

“To be honest I wasn’t. He’s a very ambitious manager and he wants to get to the top. I enjoyed my two years working for him and he’s a very hard-working manager who never took a day off. He brings together a fantastic team spirit and has an eye for a player. He loves to develop those players and create a hard-working and well organised team. The problem at Preston though is that it’s run on an incredibly tight budget; one of the lowest in the league. I think considering the lack of investment on the playing staff and the wages they pay to reach 11th was tremendous. I think though that he wants to keep climbing the ladder and he views Sunderland as a chance to gain promotion and get into the Premier League. That’s where he wants to manage.”

The crumbling spires

Lastly we turn to Chesterfield, the veteran striker’s first club where he is still held in extremely high regard. Having finished bottom of League One last term the Spireites are sadly enduring a miserable time at present, something that clearly troubles Davies greatly.

“I went over to a couple of games last season and there was a lot of frustration with the fans with the lack of fight really. They’ve been a yo-yo club over the last five to ten years and fans are getting used to relegations and promotions between League Two and One and it would be nice for some stability. They’ve got a fantastic new stadium there and a good manager in Gary but again it all comes down to finances. There is a lot of grumbling about the owners and it’s not a particularly happy place to be right now.”

Would the 40 year old ever consider a return to his roots in any capacity?

“I think I would. I’ve done all of my coaching badges up to UEFA A and I’m studying at Manchester Met at the minute. I’ve been retired a couple of years now and I’m looking to get back with the club. I did speak to them a couple of times last season when Richie Humphries took over and I spoke to Richie offering him my services to help in any way. I was then invited to a game before Gary came but I didn’t put my hat into the ring as it were for the job. I’m looking for a role there because I had four great years where I learned my trade. I love the club.

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“I think they’ll be frightening. Marcus is only going to get stronger and better. He’s been on a quick learning curve and already found himself a marked man in the Premier League. But he’s very grounded and won’t get ahead of himself and the pace of the two of them will give defenders an awful lot to think about. There is a suggestion that Jose might play the two up front and that’s something the fans at Old Trafford would love to see because them two would really be a handful.”

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With Alexandre Lacazette moving to the Emirates, and Alvaro Morata switching to Stamford Bridge already this summer, United, Arsenal and Chelsea have spent a whopping £190m on strikers between them. When asked to pick out the best signing of the trio, Pallister has no hesitation in picking the burly Belgian.

 “I’m going to say Lukaku because he is proven in the Premiership. The other guys come over to the Premier League and the pace and power is different, but Lukaku has done it regularly for West Brom and Everton. He is a proven Premier League goal-scorer, and I think that’s why Jose gave up on Morata. Lukaku is very bullish, brash and quick. He’ll mess defenders about.”

There is no questioning the 24 year old’s physical attributes or indeed his scoring prowess but an awful lot of pressure comes attached with a £75m fee. Is there a need for the striker to score early, and lay any doubts immediately to rest? 

“I’ve got to say that you never know how players will settle in at Manchester United as it’s a different animal altogether from Everton, even probably Chelsea. The level of expectation at United exceeds both of those clubs. He’s got to get used to that. When you go for that fee, everybody expects you to hit the ground running and be an instant hit, but it didn’t happen to Pogba last year and I’m sure if Lukaku doesn’t score in his first few games, the critics will be on his back.”

“He’s a great piece of business though and will bring more dynamism to this United side and more physicality. Rashford, Mata and Lingard are all good players, but haven’t got the power to worry defenders. Lukaka has that in abundance.”
He also has the benefit of being good friends with a new team-mate who has been there, seen that, and worn the shirt with a huge price tag on it. Having already alluded to Paul Pogba’s relative struggles last season does Pallister think it might help Lukaku to have a mate on the pitch to share the burden of expectation with? 

“I think it’s great and we’ve seen their friendship on social media playing basketball together and training together. That can only be a positive for the team and the players themselves. Paul had his critics when he joined due to the price tag and it was a tough season for him. I think we’ll see a better Paul Pogba this year, the one that we saw for France against England. He’s obviously full of quality and a big personality but finding a level of consistency last year was the tough part, along with dealing with all of the expectation. He’s going to have a massive season.”

When talk turns to United’s other big signing – the towering Swede Victor Lindelof – the former defender who won four Premier League titles at Old Trafford becomes more circumspect, claiming that a first team spot is anything but guaranteed.

“Maybe Lindelof has been brought in as first choice but that’s not always the case. Chris (Smalling) or Phil (Jones) can put in performances and all that changes. We saw that with Mkhitaryan where it took five months before he got into the first team and began proving himself on a regular basis. Who is to say that won’t happen with Lindelof? It’s not just about how you play but how you are in training and around the place.”

It is not only in central defence that competition for places is expected to be fierce this coming season, and the player fondly known as ‘Pally’ to team-mates and fans alike has been greatly encouraged at the progress made by several youngsters pushing for regular selection. With Jose Mourinho stereotypically distrustful of youth, who does he think has the best chance of changing that perception for good?  

“Youngsters are always going to be the future of Manchester United football club because that’s in their history. That’s been done throughout the decades and Jose has come to understand that. We saw that in a game last season where there were numerous debutants and the likes of Tuanzebe, Fosu-Mensah and Pereira have all got a chance. It’s a matter of putting in the performances and proving to Jose that you’re good enough for the first team with all the pressure that brings. Fosu-Mensah certainly looks a really powerful and strong defender. It’s actually frightening.”

If the Dutch teenager does succeed in finally putting the bed the notion that the Special One prefers players of experience there is also another long-standing cliché that Pallister is looking forward to being disproved.

“Jose has spoken about how United have to entertain and play a certain type of football which was a breath of fresh air for the fans because we’d had three years of stagnant football. That was hard to take after the Ferguson years where most of the time it was 4-4-2 and trying to score more goals than the opposition. So I will be intrigued to see how they start the season and whether he takes the reins off Rashford and plays him with Lukaku. I do think that Mourinho understands what Manchester United is all about now and he’s trying to play more entertaining and adventurous football.”

Whether it’s open, attacking fare or stoic pragmatism witnessed at the Theatre of Dreams this season ultimately of course it will come down to results. What does the ex-England international believe will be considered a successful campaign, and what will be viewed as unacceptable?

“It’s difficult to judge because last year we won two trophies and qualified for the Champions League all-be-it through the back door. Failure would certainly be failing to finish in the top four. That’s always been the remit for managers since Sir Alex left. But I would expect United to be up there challenging as well. It would be disappointing if we aren’t.”

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