Did Mourinho make a mistake letting Depay go?
Few Manchester United fans were bothered when Memphis Depay was sold to Lyon last January, but it’s increasingly looking like a big mistake not to give him more time at Old Trafford.
The Dutch winger joined the Red Devils in 2015 as a bright prospect after impressing at PSV, but couldn’t quite get into his groove in a year-and-a-half in England.
MORE: Memphis Depay stats – why Man Utd MUST re-sign Lyon star
Now at Lyon, Depay looks back to his best and has produced an absolutely fabulous finish in tonight’s game against ASSE.
Just to rub it in for United fans, this comes just as Jose Mourinho’s side were desperately found lacking in the final third in another big game, as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea.
Memphis Depay 1-0 ASSE. pic.twitter.com/GOdapyoE3m
— Lana ? (@Cocolitooo) November 5, 2017
United fans are already starting to get nostalgic for Depay and the immense potential he clearly has, though some of them clearly need reminding not to worry – he does have a release clause in his contract, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Miss you Depay come back x
— B?????? (@simplyherreraa) November 5, 2017
Memphis Depay is needed back in the Premier League. Too big a baller for Ligue 1
— Ander (@ffsPxlisic) November 5, 2017
Still, the question must be asked again of Mourinho – it’s one thing being able to purchase the player again once he’s developed/improved his confidence, but why isn’t the Portuguese able to nurture such attacking talent himself?
Even if United could have done with a player like Depay in attack against Chelsea today, they also failed to get a top quality forward line consisting of Romelu Lukaku, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marcus Rashford to shine at Stamford Bridge.
With United looking so defensive and starved of ideas in the big games, the blame must once again be laid at the door of the manager, who both fails to recognise quality like Depay when he has it, and fails to use the forward players he does have to the best of their ability.