Mourinho Gets Ed Woodward Backing To Turn Round Club’s Fortunes

RICHARD TANNER

Jose Mourinho’s job as Manchester United manager us not under threat – for now.

Mourinho has been told by executive vice chairman Ed Woodward that the club still believes he is the man to turn round their fortunes.

And he has also been told he will be backed there if he wants to strengthen his squad in the January transfer window after voicing his frustrations at United’s failure to land one of his defensive targets this summer.

Woodward is understood to have spoken with Mourinho immediately after Monday’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford – the heaviest home setback the former Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid manager has suffered in his career – to offer his support and that of the club’s American owners, the Glazer family.

It is also the first time that United, who launched a new third choice pink kit on Tuesday, have lost two of their opening three League games since 1992. However, the board were impressed by the positive first half display, the effort of the players and the fact the fans did not turn on the team or the manager at the final whistle.

And it is understood they were delighted Mourinho made a point of standing in front of the Stretford End at the final whistle to thank the fans for staying behind the team.

The club also do not have any concerns over Mourinho’s worsening relationship with the media. Sources say they were well aware of his abrasiveness and volatility when they appointed him.

Mourinho, however, knows that results must improve – and quickly – because the minimum requirement for a Manchester United manager is to finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League.

They are already six points behind title pacesetters Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Watford who have all taken maximum points from their opening three games.

United will also be expected to qualify from their group and reach the knock-out stages of Europe’s top club competition – they will learn their group stage opponents when the draw is made in Monaco on Thursday – and make strong progress in both the domestic cup competitions.

United have never been ‘knee-jerk reaction’ club. They stuck with David Moyes for 10 months until there was no longer the possibility of qualifying for the Champions League and despite many fans turning against Louis Van Gaal’s style of football, they gave the Dutchman two years before dismissing him.

Despite winning the FA Cup in his final game, Van Gaal, like Moyes, was sacked because United had failed to qualify for the Champions League. Mourinho knows that is the bottom line for him.

United next visit Burnley on Sunday and a setback for Mourinho as he tries to cure his team’s defensive problems is that Phil Jones is likely to be out for at least three weeks after injuring a hamstring in his first outing of the season on Monday.