Jose Mourinho sweating on disciplinary ruling
Having regularly butted heads with the English football’s governing body during his spells at Chelsea, it comes as little surprise to see the Portuguese in hot water once again. Mourinho had until the close of play yesterday to respond to a misconduct charge dished out by the FA following comments about referee Anthony Taylor in the lead up to the 0-0 draw at Liverpool earlier in the month.
It is understood the disciplinary commission is to rule on the matter before the week is out, but it is the punishment for Saturday’s behaviour in the goalless draw with Burnley that may land the hardest blow.
A fine appears the most likely outcome for the Taylor incident, but Mourinho could be hit by a touchline ban after being sent off by referee Mark Clattenburg at Old Trafford. The United manager is understood to have been sent to the stands as the teams made their way out for the second half. Mourinho was incandescent late in the first half after Matteo Darmian had penalty appeals ignored.
Mourinho faces a fine should the FA deem the offence worthy of a general misconduct charge, like that handed to Stoke boss Mark Hughes after being sent to the stands against Tottenham in September.
However, insulting language and/or abusive language sits in a higher band, with the standard penalty a fine and one-match touchline ban if it is accepted by the manager.
Any pitchside absence would be far from ideal but United left-back Luke Shaw is hopeful it would not be too detrimental to the team.
“We’ll keep strong and if he’s not going to be on the sidelines, we’ve got Rui (Faria, United assistant manager) as well who is another very strong character as well.”
United travel to Turkey to face Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday, before travelling to Swansea in the Premier League on Sunday.
Meanwhile Bastian Schweinsteiger’s United exile has come to an end and Luke Shaw believes it will prove a “great boost” to everyone at the club. Brought to Old Trafford by Louis van Gaal last summer, the 32-year-old was immediately frozen out by Mourinho.
Schweinsteiger’s stock plummeted so far that United had to write him off as an asset in the club accounts as he was “no longer considered to be a member of the first team playing squad”.
However, the former Germany captain has surprisingly been brought in from the cold, with the club releasing pictures of him training with the first team at the Aon Training Complex yesterday.
“It’s great to see him back,” Shaw said. “We found out the news a couple of days ago and it’s so great to have him back.” Schweinsteiger is unable to play a part in Thursday’s Europa League trip to Fenerbahce given he is not registered for the competition but could feature at Swansea next weekend.
