Why Scott McTominay’s Manchester United career is symbol of Glazer mismanagement

There was a sudden ripple of panic around the Old Trafford offices as Jose Mourinho made his expected announcement. No-one had planned for this, it was unprecedented, totally off script from what should have been a simple address.

In many ways, Mourinho’s decision to simply invent an award on stage was emblematic of his time at Manchester United, or his managerial career. He’s never been one to play by the rules.

The logic behind the Portuguese creating an off-the-cuff prize - the Manager’s Player of the Year - was that it was ‘unacceptable’ Scott McTominay had not claimed an award at the end of the 2017/18 season, his first as a senior player at United.

Then aged 21, McTominay had begun the season captaining the Under-23s away to Leicester City but within a few months played 90 minutes in a Champions League knockout tie against Sevilla, and in Premier League wins over Liverpool and Chelsea.

He was slightly abashed speaking in a brief interview after receiving the new-fangled award. “Obviously it was a tremendous honour, and I am so grateful to the manager for choosing me,” he said, before referencing the experience of playing alongside established midfielders Michael Carrick, Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic.

However, as was often the case with Mourinho, there was an agenda in his decision, a subtle dig at the players who McTominay had outshone in his eyes. “I always say that for me there are not young players or old players, it is just about the quality of the personality and this kid has everything that I want,” the ex-Chelsea boss said, implying that others needed to strengthen their resolve.

It wasn’t the last time Mourinho would use McTominay as a pawn in his various wars at United, be it with the players, the media, Ed Woodward or the Glazers. Selecting the young midfielder at centre-back in games against West Ham United and Southampton was a transparent ploy following the 2018 summer window when the club failed to sign a centre-back as requested.

Things were more settled under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer though, with McTominay a regular for the majority of the Norwegian’s time in charge. The Scotland international played 49 games in 2020/21 as United finished second and made it to the Europa League final.

He was regularly paired in a midfield duo alongside Fred during that term, a partnership which delivered some success based on industry and endeavour rather than any innovative tactical approach. Neither was really a holding midfielder, but the strengths of ‘McFred’ often covered for the duo’s glaring deficiencies - namely, an inability to shield a back four.

Ralf Rangnick continued with the pairing during his brief stint in charge, but one of Erik ten Hag’s first assignments when he was appointed in 2022 was to find a much-needed balance in midfield - something he has failed to achieve, to the detriment of McTominay and his fellow midfielders.

In that first summer, Christian Eriksen arrived, Frenkie de Jong didn’t, and then Casemiro belatedly did in a panic-stricken late transfer splurge after an inauspicious start to Ten Hag’s career in England.

McTominay has never been a guaranteed starter under the Dutchman, even if he did outlast Fred at Old Trafford. But Ten Hag, at least, realised that United’s no.39 was not a natural defensive midfielder.

Unlike his predecessors, the incumbent boss has managed to harness McTominay’s offensive qualities. He netted 10 times last season, including winners against Brentford, Chelsea and Aston Villa - goals which may well have kept Ten Hag in his current job.

No wonder he didn’t want McTominay to leave this summer, but it’s a decision that has been pushed on the ex-Ajax boss due to United’s PSR picture. Turning down serious money for a home-grown talent is simply too difficult in the current market.

McTominay should leave United with a sense of pride at his achievements - he is one of United’s most successful youth graduates in recent times and Marcus Rashford is the only player in that category over the last decade who has made more senior appearances for the club.

But there might also be a nagging sense of ‘what if?’ about his six-and-a-bit years as a first-team player. Had the exuberant midfielder been paired alongside a natural holding player - ironically, such as the incoming Manuel Ugarte - for long periods in the team, things might have worked out differently.

McTominay represents a member of a new cohort of midfielders whose greatest qualities are their energetic presence. Similarly, Jordan Henderson, Conor Gallagher and Kalvin Phillips have thrived in teams where intensity was prioritised over technical skills in the middle.

The outgoing United star, who is on the verge of signing for Napoli, will be fondly remembered by United fans, a player whose commitment was never in question and one who never shirked a challenge - a simple plaudit that cannot be afforded to all of his team-mates over the last six years.

There were no shortage of highlights over the years, even if McTominay perhaps lacked the quality to push United towards a league title or European glory.

That didn’t stop the stylistically similar Henderson thriving at Liverpool. The obvious difference was he played for a excellently run outfit, where on-field success was prioritised over owners’ dividend payments, with players purchased to fit Klopp’s astute tactical model.

In many ways, McTominay, like many team-mates of recent years, was the victim of the chaotic mess that has been Manchester United - his career a by-product of the mismanagement of the club from top to bottom. In many ways, it makes his achievements even more commendable.