John Murtough comments on Manchester United signing have currently backfired in every way

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Manchester United midfielder Mason Mount has had a difficult start at Old Trafford and there have been lots of questions about why he was signed.

Manchester United were confident they had pulled off a coup this summer to the signature of Mason Mount.

Unfortunately the England international has had a slow start, with no goals and just one assist.

More worryingly, he has failed to establish a role in the team, and it certainly does not help Manchester United’s under-pressure Football Director, John Murtough.

John Murtough under pressure

There is growing speculation over John Murtough‘s future at the club, amid Ineos’ soon-to-be concluded minority takeover.

The Manchester Evening News reported this week that Murtough will ‘definitely’ be axed from his role, while  The Telegraph report he is still hopeful he will be retained, and could possibly be re-assigned in another role.

Chief executive Richard Arnold was axed from his role at the club last week, with an interim appointed.

Murtough hailed Mount deal

If Murtough is fighting his corner, then he would want to point to the success of his first summer deal, which he talked up so highly. However, Mount’s struggles will undercut his argument.

Murtough is on record speaking to club media: “His style of play and attributes are a perfect fit for this squad, and we all believe that he will only improve further by working with Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff.

“Mason himself is a world-class player but he also has the ability to improve the players around him through his game intelligence and tactical awareness.”

None of this has panned out well. Mason Mount has looked anything but a ‘perfect fit’ for the current Manchester United squad.

Going back to the very first game of the season against Wolves, the team looked completely off-balance, and last week Paul Scholes spoke out to voice his concerns.

Scholes told the Webby and O’Neill YouTube channel: “It upsets the balance of the team. It upsets the legs he has in midfield. I really think he wanted to play him with Bruno Fernandes but the two of them playing in the team, it just doesn’t seem to be working now.”

Murtough said Mount will improve the players around him, but there is no evidence of this so far. Instead his inability to dominate possession has added more pressure to Casemiro, and it has also made Fernandes’ role more confused, while issues with a lack of service to a striker remains.

Mount has a long-term contract at United, and the club will hope he will come good. But there is a strong chance Murtough won’t be around to see it. The ‘Football Director’ needs Mount to come good now.