FORMATIONI'd expect Mourinho to stick to a 4-2-3-1 - a tried-and-tested system for him. I think it gives him defensive solidity; he puts a lot of importance on the defensive side of the game - a lot more than many other managers - but he'll also want pace in the wide areas to get up and support the front man.
You've got the protection in front of the centre-backs and more often than not, the full-backs will want to push on and support play - I think you saw that with Cesar Azpilicueta and Branislav Ivanovic at Chelsea.
Defence
With David de Gea, he doesn't need a new goalkeeper but you could see at the end of last season that the spine of the team needed strengthening. Mourinho knew that and he's already worked on it.
Daley Blind is a very good player but I don't think he's a centre-back. I think teams last season looked to isolate him, especially at set-pieces. There's been talk of Raphael Varane but Chris Smalling has done well and I think he will complement the new defensive signing in Eric Bailly. Bailly's only a young lad but he's very good on the ball. I think he'll suit the Premier League because he's physical, he's strong, he's quick.
Will he bring in any new full-backs? Luke Shaw's coming back from injury and with the spine of the team his focus, I think he'll see how they get on first.Midfield
When I look at what Mourinho did when he was successful at Chelsea - when he won the league - he had Nemanja Matic sitting, which allowed Cesc Fabregas - who's not too defensively-minded - to get forward and dictate play. I think Mourinho will be thinking the same way; he wants that defensive-minded player to look after the centre-backs and the other player - I'd put Wayne Rooney there at the moment - to get forward.
Manchester United were very possession-based last season and they found teams difficult to break down. Mourinho will want pace in key areas to turn defence into attack much quicker and if they do manage to get a Pogba, that's what they'd get; they're very good running with the ball.
Attack
I think Mkhitaryan brings something in that area that Manchester United have missed for a long time. He's very clever; he can feed players, his passing ability is second to none. He's got pace himself and he's got pace around him.
Ibrahimovic has also got a key role to play. If he drops off, Mkhirtaryan is going to find space and he'll bring the wide players in as well. Teams that did well against Manchester United last season kept a very rigid 4-5-1 formation when they were defending but with the movement that Ibrahimovic brings, they're not going to be able to stay in a 4-5-1.
I thought last season that when Man United were attacking, the opposition were able to stay narrow - there was no real fear of anyone getting in behind them - but the know-how and intelligence of Ibrahimovic and Mkhitaryan will give opposition centre-backs huge problems.
Do they go with Ibrahimovic if he drops off? If they do, there could be gaps in behind for Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial to come into. If they stay deep then Ibrahimovic can get the ball and turn. I think they'll make a huge difference to Rashford and Martial.
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