The focus has turned to Valencia on Tuesday night

Jose Mourinho admitted that he would use the train journey back from London to plot Manchester United's recovery from the disappointment of defeat at West Ham United.

Strikes from Felipe Anderson and Marko Arnautovic, plus an unfortunate own goal by Victor Lindelof, ensured all three points went to the Hammers, despite a second-half effort from Marcus Rashford that temporarily offered the Reds hope.

Afterwards, Mourinho and Ashley Young both spoke positively about the chance to move forward quickly. With the Valencia match coming just three days after the loss at London Stadium, Jose acknowledged the rebuilding work would start instantly.

“For myself, speaking of my own feelings, I am really happy that we have a game on Tuesday,” said the manager. “I am really happy that I now go to the train and I start immediately thinking about training tomorrow and about the match on Tuesday. I prefer that to only playing next Saturday, with one week of these bad feelings.

“I look forward to that match on Tuesday and I hope the majority of the players have this same kind of mentality, and that they are looking forward to Tuesday.”

Valencia's visit is United's first home game in the Champions League group stage this season and, despite some inconsistent Premier League form and last week's Carabao Cup exit, Mourinho's men are well placed in Europe, thanks to an impressive 3-0 win against Young Boys of Bern on matchday one.

“I have no complaints with the players' attitude,“ stated the boss.

Ashley Young echoed Mourinho's forward focus, and hoped that the game against Valencia would help the squad bounce back.

“When you have these types of results, you want a game as quickly as possible,” confessed United's no.18. “We've got that in a couple of days' time, so we've got to dust ourselves off quickly and get rid of the disappointment.”

The only positive on Saturday for United was a first goal of the season for substitute Marcus Rashford, after his return to league duties following a three-match suspension.

As Mourinho and Young both stressed, Tuesday offers the opportunity to take a big step towards securing qualification for the knockout stages of Europe's premier football competition, which would quickly restore momentum following three difficult results against Wolves, Derby County and West Ham.

Is time up for Jose Mourinho at Manchester United?

Defeat at West Ham on Saturday lunchtime condemned Manchester United to their worst start to a league season for 29 years and intensified the pressure on Jose Mourinho.

In addition to the 3-1 reverse at the London Stadium, United have lost to Brighton and Tottenham and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Derby on penalties.

So is Mourinho's time at Old Trafford coming to an end? Read on for the views of the Sunday Supplement panel...

'Jose won't turn dressing room around'
Matt Dunn - Daily Express: A very tepid performance [at West Ham] from a team that just looked ordinary. It wasn't Manchester United, even when they scored the goal, there was no sense of 'oh, they're going to turn it around now' because, first of all, it has to be said, West Ham played very well but United just had nothing about them.

They didn't look dangerous, they were going at half speed, no one seemed to be getting stuck in, no second balls were being won, they weren't turning the screw at all. That is just totally un-Man Utd. Unfortunately, there is one person steering that ship at the moment and that is Jose Mourinho and he's got a lot of questions to answer now.

The way out for Mourinho is through the exit doors. All that is keeping him in that job at the moment is the Manchester United name and the feeling [from the board] that 'we've got to do the right thing'.

He's not going to turn that dressing room around, it's a case of managing when you swing the axe. I'm a big fan of Jose Mourinho's, when he's on form he's a very engaging man, very pleasant but for whatever reason he is picking fights with his entire dressing room. He's just losing the plot.

'Identity crisis since Fergie left'
Rob Draper - Mail on Sunday: Manchester United have been in an identity crisis ever since Sir Alex Ferguson left, obviously, but it felt like an existential crisis. What is the point of Manchester United if you're going to West Ham and seemingly starting on the back foot and inviting them on to you?

I know people caricature Mourinho as a defensive coach but, at his peak, he was much more than that. He was a much more interesting, innovative coach than the caricature and this doesn't look like a Jose Mourinho side. It looks he's having an identity crisis, the club are having an identity crisis; it feels like they're in a complete cul-de-sac and the only way out is to change leadership.

Something someone close to the club said to me this week is that the chatter around the club, amongst people in the dressing room, is that this could unravel very quickly. That is obviously the sense of crisis they've got to, only Ed Woodward really knows.

Their problem is what do you do for the next seven or eight months of the season? It is still a big season to fight for, they've still got to make the top four, they've got a Champions League campaign, the FA Cup etc to play for so Manchester United is not a club that can just blow in the wind for eight months and wait for the right man to come along.

'Mourinho can't arrest the decline'
Dominic Fifield - The Guardian: [Mourinho's end at Chelsea] was dire, I think that was probably worse but I think the one parallel to be drawn now is that spell in the autumn of 2015, Chelsea occasionally flickered into life, they had a good win against Arsenal in that run, they had a few results in the Champions League as well.

Every time that happened you thought, 'oh, they're turning a corner and get back to what they were last season' which was a title-winning side. United won those three away games and we sort of clung to that as evidence that he can still turn it around, that it's not gone too far yet.

The reality is they're in a tailspin. That this last week has happened just demonstrates that he can't arrest this decline, unfortunately. He was mystified by it at Chelsea, he never offered any conviction that he knew how to how to stop that rot and I get the impression now that the same thing is happening at United.

The problems are too ingrained, there's a lack of leadership at the top, there's obviously a massive issue with Paul Pogba but at any other club when you've got a disaffected star player who wants to leave, look at Chelsea, Eden Hazard wants to go to Real Madrid, he said it virtually at the end of the World Cup but Mauricio Sarri and Chelsea have got him playing brilliantly.

That's the job of a manager and unfortunately Mourinho seems to want to go the other way and ostracise him and pin him to the sidelines, that's just not going to work.

Credit: Skysports.com

Neville's verdict on United 'mess'

Gary Neville believes Manchester United's problems are down to the club's chiefs rather than manager Jose Mourinho.

United have made their worst start to a season in 29 years, with Saturday's 3-1 loss at West Ham ending a tumultuous week during which Mourinho's strained relationship with Paul Pogba was caught by Sky Sports cameras and the club crashed out of the Carabao Cup.

Reflecting on a defeat that leaves United 10th in the table - nine points off league-leading rivals Manchester City - Sky Sports pundit Neville wrote on Twitter: "This mess started when United sacked David Moyes after 8 months and we lost all sense of the values that the club had been built on for 100 years.

"It's not the manager it's the lack of football leadership above him. They are bouncing all over the place with no plan!"

Replying to a suggestion United were wrong to appoint Moyes in the first place, Neville said: "That's another question but when they sacked him after eight months it went into pinball, reactive mode and chasing it! No plan..."

Neville - speaking on Monday Night Football - had warned earlier this season that United could not keep "jumping around with managers," and backed Mourinho to see out his contract.

Scrutiny of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward's strategy since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013 has been echoed by United supporters.

In a public expression of discontent, a banner declaring Woodward a 'specialist in failure' was flown over Turf Moor during United's 2-0 win over Burnley in early September.

Credit: Skysports.com

Huth: Too many voices in Manchester United dressing room

Former Chelsea defender Robert Huth thinks Jose Mourinho is struggling to get his message across at Manchester United because there are too many voices in the dressing room.

United have made their worst start to a season in 29 years, with Saturday's 3-1 loss at West Ham ending a difficult week during which Mourinho's strained relationship with Paul Pogba was caught by Sky Sports cameras and the club crashed out of the Carabao Cup.

According to Huth, who was speaking on Goals On Sunday, the United players are not buying into what Mourinho wants from them.

"What Mourinho had at Chelsea and at his other previous clubs was that the players bought 100 per cent into what he was trying to do," Huth told Sky Sports.

"There was no I don't like what we're doing. Even if some players didn't like what the plan was they bought into it and did the job 100 per cent.

"At the moment at United, there are too many voices saying 'we should be doing this, we should be doing that or I should be playing in this position'.

"That's when you get a performance like the one at West Ham, it just looked disjointed."

Huth also thinks Mourinho has lost some of the swagger that helped him win league titles in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain and two Champions League titles.

"He seems to have lost a bit of the swagger, the 'I don't care attitude' he used to have and the connection with the players," he added.

"If you look back years ago at Inter, Real Madrid and Chelsea he used to have an instant connection, a spark with the players.

"They would do everything for him but at the moment it's not quite there."

Huth knows first-hand what it's like to play under Mourinho having been at Chelsea during the Portuguese manager's first reign at Stamford Bridge.

And the German defender, who won the Premier League title with both Chelsea and Leicester, talked about Mourinho's uncompromising style.

"He's brutal," Huth said. "It was more than 10 years ago that I worked with him but he certainly wouldn't let you get away with any lax attitude or a bad session. He encourages you and be positive but the second you don't do it, he was on you.

"He was brutal and honest at the same time. Certainly, at Chelsea, everyone took responsibility for their own performances. He was at the helm with all the preparation and tactics he used to do but ultimately on a Saturday, it's the player's job.

"It's not a nice place to be when he goes for you, absolutely not," he added. "It's something you learn to deal with the further you go on in your sporting life but yes, I got picked out many a time.

"I went home and the next day was another day and he'd forgotten about it. He was very here and now. There was no issue in terms of I don't like you but he needed you to do a job and if you didn't do it you weren't the player for him."

Credit: Skysports.com

Rio Ferdidnand: Decision to be made after West Ham defeat

Manchester United "have big decisions" to make about the future of manager Jose Mourinho, according to former defender Rio Ferdinand.

The Red Devils' 3-1 defeat at West Ham on Saturday made this their worst start to a top-flight season since 1989-90.

It is their third loss in seven league games and follows a home Carabao Cup exit to Championship side Derby.

"There will be conversations at the top level about the future of the manager and the squad," Ferdinand told BT.

"The basics are not being done and something has to be said.

"You can't let a situation like this continue throughout the season - wars in the press, leaks, players on one side of the dressing room, Mourinho and his staff on the other. If that continues this will be one of the worst seasons in the club's history."

'A war within the club' - Scholes

West Ham's victory at London Stadium was their biggest over Manchester United in 36 years, achieved through Felipe Anderson's fifth-minute strike, a Victor Lindelof own goal and a simple finish from Marko Arnautovic after questionable defending.

Substitute Marcus Rashford had given the visitors hope when his smart finish from a corner reduced the arrears to 2-1, but former midfielder Paul Scholes said "the fight was just not there".

"That was as bad as you've seen from a United team for a long time," Scholes told BT Sport. "The attitude has been questioned before and it has to be questioned again. The hunger and desire to get amongst people wasn't there.

"At this minute, this club is in a bit of a mess.

"Is this the end for the manager? I don't know. Who's going to get more out of this team? We just know at this moment in time it feels wrong."

Mourinho took the United job in the summer of 2016, and led the team to success in the Europa League and League Cup in his first season.

They were runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League and Chelsea in the FA Cup last season.

Mourinho's 'mini wars' this season

29 July: Mourinho v pre-season tour - 'If I was the fans, I wouldn't come'
29 July: Mourinho v Ed Woodward - 'I gave the club a list of five names a few months ago'
10 August: Woodward v Mourinho - Manager's late attempts to sign defenders blocked
28 August: Mourinho v media - 'Respect, respect, respect'
1 September: Mourinho v Anthony Martial - Mourinho willing to let French forward leave
24 September: Paul Pogba v Mourinho part 1- Questions club tactics following 1-1 draw with Wolves
25 September: Mourinho v Pogba part 2 - 'No problems' but 'second captaincy' taken away
26 September: Mourinho v Pogba part 3 - Training-ground incident

Other memorable Mourinho moments:

January 2017: Mourinho v fans - 'Don't come to the theatre'
April 2017: Mourinho v Luke Shaw - 'He is a long way behind'
March 2018: Mourinho v media - 12-minute speech on European record


Analysis - 'Sacking Mourinho would fly in face of Glazer ownership'

BBC Sport's Simon Stone
No sooner had the final whistle gone at London Stadium than the bookmakers were sending round the inevitable press releases stating Mourinho was the favourite to be the next manager to leave his job.

The reality is if that scenario unfolds, it would fly in the face of the Glazer family's ownership of Manchester United.

While the reclusive American family, who never talk to the media about United, can be accused of many things, being knee-jerk is not one of them.

In the immediate aftermath of their takeover in 2005, Sir Alex Ferguson was in the process of trying to rebuild his team, which had fallen well behind Chelsea and Arsenal. The Glazers stuck with him.

David Moyes' tenure was not brought to an end until United knew it was mathematically impossible to qualify for the Champions League, despite numerous awful results and even a plane flying over Old Trafford trailing a banner that demanded his exit.

When rumours circulated around Christmas 2015 that Louis van Gaal was about to be sacked, they proved to be false. It was only at the end of the season when, once again, United had not finished in the top four, that he was removed.

I was told earlier this week results would be the criterion Mourinho would be judged on. As bad as the defeat at West Ham was, I didn't get the impression we were talking about one.

Who is at fault - manager or players?

Alexis Sanchez's failure to score so far this season meant he did not even make the squad at London Stadium, with Anthony Martial replacing him in attack.

Midfielder Paul Pogba - who was told in midweek he would not captain the team again following his comments that his side need to "attack, attack, attack" at home, and was then involved in an apparent training-ground dispute with Mourinho - was replaced on 70 minutes after an ineffective display.

But it was in defence where there were most post-match questions.

Midfielder Scott McTominay, 21, started as part of a three-man backline, prompting Scholes to question whether it is the quality of the players at Mourinho's disposal - not just the manager himself - to blame for their poor run of results.

"I wonder if the quality is there," said Scholes. "That back four that finished the game - Ashley Young, Chris Smalling, McTominay, Luke Shaw - isn't one that will get you anywhere near the top of the league."

Ferdinand, winner of six Premier League titles and the Champions League with the club between 2002 and 2014, agreed but also questioned the players' attitude.

"There is a lack of quality," he said. "I'd question whether the players who have been brought in are good enough. But on top of that you have to get the players playing. I don't see anyone shouting down people's throats.
There's no intent to make life difficult for other players.

"As a footballer your DNA is about hard work and effort. I didn't see that today. I didn't see them make two or three passes in succession - that's criminal. I don't see enough players working hard to say to the manager 'this is my place in the team'. You've got to work hard and grind and Man Utd didn't."

No complaints with players' attitude - Mourinho

Mourinho said he could have "no complaints with the players' attitude" but did question the quality of their play - as well as being unhappy with several of the officials' key decisions.

"When you come here and you feel the team, not shaking, but with a lack of confidence, it's important to have a positive start," he told BBC Sport.

"We had the worst possible start, conceding a goal that was offside. The linesman made that mistake and we were punished.

"After that we had a positive reaction. We had good situations but then we conceded a goal which was a bit ridiculous to concede. Everyone knows Andriy Yarmolenko is is left-footed. We had Nemanja Matic one-on-one with him, we had Lindelof and Shaw just after him, but we were not able to put pressure on the ball. These are things their central defenders did, and Pedro Obiang and Declan Rice in front of them fought to keep the clean sheet.

"And then there was also another mistake, from the referee. Pablo Zabaleta pulls Rashford from behind, and their third goal kills it.

"When you are winning and full of confidence it's the best vitamin you can have. Sometimes you score impossible goals.

"When the moment is not the best it looks like everything goes against you and today we can feel exactly like that. In the next match on Tuesday [against Valencia in the Champions League] the players have to be brave and strong and try to have a better start than today."

What are Man Utd fans saying?

Should Mourinho stay or go? And what about Pogba's future? The Red Devils fans who called 606 on Saturday had some strong views.

Devon: "Mourinho is a broken man, he is finished at United. He is trying to draw attention from poor performances by picking a fight with Pogba. When I saw the line-up today I knew there was no chance of United winning that game."

Ashley: "Mourinho and Pogba might have to go but Mourinho cannot go immediately. I think it sets a bad precedent if he gets kicked out due to player power.

"Pogba has to go, whatever his problem is he's unsettling everyone else. Get rid of him when the window opens. Then let's think about Mourinho."

Graham: "Get rid of both Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba. Get rid of them. If you get rid of one, the other will think they have the world at their feet.

"We have got rid of bigger players. Look at the way Roy Keane went, he was a better player, Mourinho is not going to improve the squad, he is not trying to play the football we play.

"If you give me the Mourinho running up and down the touchline celebrating with the team I'll take that. This Mourinho just sits, moping, looking like he doesn't care."

Ben: "I was appalled with what I saw today. It not a team, it is a bunch of individuals who can't play together. They are nothing like the United of old. The team is chopped and changed every week.

Scott McTominay is a good player but he was playing in defence. The spine of that team should be Eric Bailly, Pogba and Romelu Lukaku.

"I disagree Pogba had got to go. It is Jose. All the older fans around me tell me it is Mourinho He's slowly losing the team and you can see that on the pitch. They were not trying hard enough."

Credit: BBC Sport

Talking points from Man Utd's 3-1 defeat at West Ham.

From Paul Pogba's performance to Jose Mourinho's team selection, we pick out the talking points as West Ham increased the pressure on the Manchester United boss with a 3-1 victory at the London Stadium on Saturday.

More misery for Mourinho

Defeat to West Ham left Manchester United with just 10 points after seven games, equalling their lowest ever tally at this point of a Premier League season.

Mourinho's side have won only three of those games, drawing one and losing the other three to Brighton and Tottenham before the Hammers reverse.

Alarmingly, Marcus Rashford's backheel at the London Stadium was just their 10th goal of the campaign, the exact same number David Moyes had managed seven games into his spell at Old Trafford - and everyone knows how that ended.

Despite receiving backing from above, Mourinho is going to have to start getting a tune from his players fast to avoid the same fate. It's early days but United are already eight points off the pace and out of the Carabao Cup - salvaging something from this season is already looking a tough ask.

The Pogba problem

Despite the building tension between Mourinho and Pogba, the Manchester United manager was true to his word and started the Frenchman against West Ham. Would there be a reaction from the midfielder after all that had gone on during the week?

Pogba, who had the United vice-captaincy taken off him during the week by Mourinho, started on the left of a three-man midfield, which also featured Marouane Fellaini and Nemanja Matic. However, it proved to be a frustrating afternoon for the 25-year-old.

With no options in front of him there were clear public displays of frustration from Pogba as he was forced to turn back with the ball during a frustrating first half at the London Stadium for Manchester United.

There were more clear signs of that frustration early in the second half. Pogba carried the ball from near his own corner flag to near the halfway line but, with a lack of support, he struggled to keep hold of possession before being fouled by Pedro Obiang. He looked far from impressed with his team-mates, throwing his arms up in the air.

Pogba's afternoon was over in the 70th minute when he was hooked by Mourinho. There was a somewhat awkward exchange between the pair as Pogba took his seat on the bench, but the United manager did pat the midfielder on the back. But that's not likely to have changed Pogba's mood as this situation gets set to rumble on.

Where are Jose's options?

When asked why he had left both Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard out of his matchday squad, Mourinho replied: "Options, just options." But on his side's showing at the London Stadium, options are in short supply for Mourinho at the moment.

Anthony Martial failed to make an impact coming into the side in place of Sanchez, while the likes of Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford sat on the bench as a midfield three of Pogba, Matic and Fellaini failed to spark, leaving Romelu Lukaku to cut an isolated figure up front.

Then there was the inclusion of Scott McTominay ahead of Eric Bailly as part of a three-man defence, which left many United fans scratching their heads. The midfielder had only played 30 minutes of football for United before today but Mourinho thrust him into the action, the 21-year-old playing the full 90 minutes in their 3-1 defeat.

"A part of a special character, a special personality, that a team in a negative moment needs this kind of mentality like Scott McTominay has." Mourinho was left impressed with McTominay's display but the move to play him at the back can not be classed as successful as United racked up a third league defeat of the season.

De Gea in decline?

Manchester United's ability to keep hold of David de Gea has been heralded as one of the club's best pieces of transfer business in recent years. But the form of the often impenetrable last line of the United defence has taken an alarming dip this season.

That continued at the London Stadium. De Gea kept six clean sheets in his first seven games last season, this term he's managed just one from his opening seven games. The Spaniard was not at fault for any of West Ham's goals - not even he could prevent Yarmolenko's deflected effort from finding the top corner - but his inability to bail United out at key stages of games this season is clearly having a profound effect.

Mourinho's weekly attempt to cobble together a defence is not helping matters, but for three of West Ham's four attempts to beat a goalkeeper of De Gea's quality, a level of responsibility lies with the United stopper.

Credit: Skysports.com

Mourinho assesses defeat at West Ham

Jose Mourinho suggested that a bad start and two key mistakes from the match officials cost Manchester United during their 3-1 defeat to West Ham United on Saturday.

The boss stressed that the team needed to start the contest at London Stadium well after a disappointing Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Derby County on Tuesday, but United were behind in just the fifth minute due to Felipe Anderson's well-executed opener.

The manager believed that the goal should not have stood - and would have been ruled out in a game that utilised the VAR system - due to an offside claim. United's misery was then compounded by a Victor Lindelof own goal just before the interval and a second-half strike from Marko Arnautovic, which Mourinho felt should have been chalked off for a foul from Pablo Zabaleta on Marcus Rashford during the build-up.

WE NEEDED TO START WELL
“We were a team that comes with that mental fragility of a bad result [the Derby match]. Coming here and after five minutes we were losing 1-0, which is not the best way to start. The goal was offside and, last Tuesday with the VAR, it would not have been a goal. Then in the first half we had a good reaction but an own goal makes 2-0. An own goal where we knew Yarmolenko is very, very left-footed, we had to cover that side, we had Matic on the ball and Luke Shaw and Lindelof very close by, but we were not aggressive enough to close that shot and then we were losing 2-0.“

RASHFORD WAS FOULED
“In the second half we took a little bit of time to react, but then we did. Their goalkeeper made a couple of good saves, their centre-backs had a fantastic match. Congratulations to the scout that found the 21-year-old kid, [Issa] Diop - a monster who dominated everything in the duels. Then we scored to make it 2-1, and there was a referee’s mistake - it was a foul on Marcus Rashford. Zabaleta didn't have an attempt to play the ball, he just pulled the player from behind. And then the third goal killed the game and mentally killed the team that had a reaction and had a little bit of reward for that reaction. Not the pride - it didn't kill the pride. I could see some of the players going until the end. I could see brave McTominay and Smalling trying to go forward and bring the ball, to go to set-pieces. But the third goal, mentally, was a big blow for the team.”

PRAISE FOR MCTOMINAY'S DEFENSIVE JOB
“He was the best [of the back three]. He had a fantastic attitude, he's aggressive and brave, and he has something that we thought was important for us: he has quality on the ball. He knows how to play football, he's technically good, he can bring the ball into offensive areas, so I'm really happy with the job the kid did.”

MARTIAL DESERVED TO START
“For how many months people is asking for Martial, Martial, Martial? For how many months is people saying, 'Alexis Sanchez is not playing well enough'? So this week it was time to agree and to say: 'Let's give a chance to Martial and let's leave Alexis out.'”

WE DID NOT SHOW OUR QUALITY
“I have no complaints with the players' attitude. I can have complaints with some quality; I can have some complaints with some mental approach in certain duels, where you could see, for example, Snodgrass coming to the pitch with an incredible attitude that he wants to eat the ball and wants to eat everyone around him. You need a little bit of that - I don't know if it's the right word in English - humility. You have always to try, also because that's my nature as a football professional. But there are certain qualities we don't have.”

WE SHOULD LOOK FORWARD TO VALENCIA
“For myself, speaking of my own feelings, I am really happy that we have a game on Tuesday. I am really happy that I now go to the train and I start immediately thinking about training tomorrow, about the match on Tuesday and I prefer that than playing next Sunday, with one week of these bad feelings. I look forward to that match on Tuesday and I hope the majority of the players have this same kind of mentality, and that they are looking forward to Tuesday.”

Jose Mourinho was speaking to BT Sport and MUTV.

Premier League: West Ham United 3 Man. United 1

Manchester United slipped to a third Premier League defeat of the season, as the improving West Ham United proved clinical in front of goal in Saturday's lunch-time contest.

Felipe Anderson's fifth-minute flicked finish and a wickedly deflected shot by Andriy Yarmolenko, later chalked up as a Victor Lindelof own goal, put the Hammers 2-0 up for half-time.

Although substitute Marcus Rashford pulled a goal back with a sublime backheel to outshine Anderson's fancy effort, Marko Arnautovic almost immediately restored the two-goal gap to make the painful final score 3-1.

After being pegged back to a draw against Wolves the previous weekend, Jose Mourinho made four changes to his starting XI, which included handing a first start of the season to Scott McTominay.

The 21-year-old was joined by Ashley Young, who skippered the side, Nemanja Matic and Anthony Martial, who all featured in Tuesday’s midweek cup exit to Derby County.

It was West Ham that started the brighter of the two teams. Fabian Balbuena had an early effort on goal, but the Paraguayan’s header did little to trouble David De Gea as it was skewed wide of the target.

However, the Hammers edged in front minutes later. Pablo Zabaleta was able to run in behind the Reds' defence and the former Manchester City player’s low cross was coolly flicked past De Gea by Anderson to put Manuel Pellegrini’s side into the lead.

It was a difficult opening for Mourinho’s men. Marko Arnautovic very nearly doubled the hosts’ lead ten minutes later, but De Gea was quick off his line to beat the athletic Austrian to the ball.

United, though, soon started to grow into the game and had a big chance to level the scores midway through the first half. A beautifully weighted cross found the head of Romelu Lukaku, however the Belgian’s effort hit the post.

The hosts, though, ended the half brightly and doubled their advantage two minutes from half-time. Andriy Yarmolenko cut inside and the Ukrainian’s crack at goal clipped Victor Lindelof to deflect past the helpless De Gea and leave the Reds with a mountain to climb going into the break.

West Ham nearly added a third goal shortly after the interval. Ashley Young’s corner was intercepted, and the Hammers charged forward on the counter-attack. Arnautovic had a go with his first touch, but his effort was fired over the crossbar.

Having made no changes at half-time, Mourinho brought on Marcus Rashford for Victor Lindelof shortly before the hour mark as the Reds continued to search for a route back into the game. Jose's side very nearly found that route when Marouane Fellaini’s downward header from Young’s curling cross forced a brilliant save from Hammers keeper Lukasz Fabianski.

As the visitors continued to apply the pressure, West Ham still posed a threat on the break. The Reds were given a warning as a through ball by Anderson was just inches away from being slid into the goal by Arnautovic.

Twenty minutes from time, Mourinho made two more changes as Mata and Fred were brought on for Martial and Pogba. Within seconds of the substitutions, the Reds did indeed have a lifeline. Luke Shaw’s corner from the left found Marcus Rashford, who leapt into the air and produced a brilliant backheeled effort which went past Fabianski, seemingly to set up an exciting final twenty minutes.

However, any hope of a late comeback was extinguished two minutes later. Mark Noble’s slide-rule pass found Arnautovic who went one-on-one with De Gea and confidently slotted the ball home and put the hosts out of sight.
MATCH DETAILS

West Ham: Fabianski, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Diop, Masuaku, Rice, Obiang, Noble (c), Yarmolenko (Snodgrass 72), F. Anderson (Diangana 90+3), Arnautovic (Antonio 83).

Subs not used: Adrian, Ogbonna, Fredericks, Lucas.

United: De Gea; Young (c), Smalling, Lindelof (Rashford 57), Shaw; Fellaini, Matic, McTominay; Pogba (Fred 70); Martial (Mata 71), Lukaku

Subs not used: Grant, Bailly, Darmian, Herrera.

Scorers: West Ham - Anderson 5, Lindelof own goal 43, Arnautovic 74. United - Rashford 71.

Booked: Young.

Attendance: 56,938.

NEXT UP

The Reds return to UEFA Champions League action on Tuesday night with a key home clash against Valencia. Kick-off at Old Trafford will be 20:00 BST.

Mourinho denies Paul Pogba was Man Utd vice-captain

Jose Mourinho says Paul Pogba was never officially Manchester United's vice-captain.

Mourinho announced earlier in the week that Pogba was not his "second captain anymore" - after the midfielder criticised United's tactics during last week's 1-1 draw with Wolves.

The United manager clarified the situation further on Friday, saying Pogba would play at West Ham on Saturday but was "just a player and not a captain".

"Paul was not the vice-captain," Mourinho said.

"We had Valencia as the captain and then we had a group of players that could be the vice captain - one day I gave it to David de Gea, I gave it to Ashley Young, to Chris Smalling.

"I first thought about Paul last season, because (he is) a player of a different generation, younger player, the captain of the future.

"Because Valencia, Young, they are more or less the same age, the same generation. But he (Pogba) was not the vice-captain, so now we don't have the vice-captain.

"Now it depends on the match, and depends on if Valencia is playing or not.

"If Valencia is playing, Valencia is the captain. If he is not playing, I will try and go in another direction."

Mourinho is adamant that the week's events have not had a negative impact on his squad ahead of Saturday's game at the London Stadium.

"I expect to win tomorrow," he added. "I expect to play very well tomorrow - we have worked very well, especially Wednesday and Thursday, so tomorrow I expect a very good performance and I expect to win a very difficult match.

"I don't come here and say 'the training session was not good and I have a bad feeling and I have a feeling that tomorrow we are not going to play well and we are not going to win'.

"I think tomorrow we are going to play very well, and I think we are going to win against a very good opponent, an opponent with great investment, with a champion manager (Manuel Pellegrini), and lots of talented players.

"Very difficult but I am very positive."

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Paul Pogba-Jose Mourinho issue could tarnish Man Utd

The issue between Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho is in danger of tarnishing Manchester United's name, according to Ryan Mason and Darren Bent on The Debate.

A turbulent week in the pair's relationship saw Mourinho inform Pogba he will never captain the side again under him, after the French midfielder criticised his tactics in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Wolves.

The pair then had a disagreement in front of television cameras at training on Wednesday, when Mourinho appeared to take issue with an Instagram post from Pogba during the previous night's disappointing Carabao Cup defeat by Derby County.

Former Tottenham midfielder Mason insists he would be surprised if Mourinho and Pogba are at Old Trafford together next season, and says this issue could be dangerous for the club in the long run.

"I'd be surprised if next season they're both there. It has become such a big issue, I'd be so shocked if both of them remain.

"But that's football at the end of the day, there will be problems, managers will leave, players will leave, but Manchester United will stay.

"It's not tarnishing their name just yet, but the way it has gone over the last six to 12 months, it's not Manchester United.

"If it carries on going like that, a lot of teams and players will begin looking at Manchester United in a different way."

Mourinho warned Pogba on Friday in his press conference that no player is bigger than Manchester United, and former England striker Bent echoed Mason's words, insisting this type of issue is usually dealt with appropriately by the club.

"If this was any other club, it wouldn't be a big issue. Manchester United have always been a classy, well-run football club, and this kind of problem doesn't happen. If a player steps out of line, they're gone, and they move on quickly.

"All of a sudden this is rumbling on, the team isn't playing well, and something has to change.

"It's not ruining their legacy at the moment, but at the same time, people are looking at Manchester United differently than how they were."

Credit: Skysports.com

Jose: No player is bigger than Manchester United

Jose Mourinho has warned Paul Pogba that no player is bigger than Manchester United.

His comments follow a turbulent week in the pair's relationship which saw Mourinho inform Pogba he will never captain the side again under him after the French midfielder criticised his tactics in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Wolves.

The pair then had a disagreement in front of television cameras at training on Wednesday, when Mourinho appeared to take issue with an Instagram post from Pogba during the previous night's disappointing Carabao Cup defeat by Derby County.

Speaking at his press conference on Friday, Mourinho said he felt compelled to act.

"Manchester United is bigger than anyone and I have to defend that," Mourinho said.

"After weeks of analysing and exchanging opinions with my coaching staff, we made the decision that from now Paul is just a player and not a captain.

"So, the decision is made."

Despite the tension between the pair, Mourinho insisted their relationship has not broken down and confirmed Pogba is set to play against West Ham on Saturday.

"The relationship between player and manager is good. It is not any more a relationship between captain - or one of the captains - and manager," Mourinho said.

"Nobody trained better than Paul on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Some trained as well as him but nobody trained better than him and tomorrow he plays.

"No player is bigger than the club. If I am happy with his work, he plays. If I am not happy with his work he does not play. I am happy with his work this week, really happy.

"The team needs good players. He is a good player. The team needs players with the personality to play. He has [it].

"So he plays tomorrow."

Mourinho was defiant when asked why he chose to confront Pogba when he knew there were cameras filming the training session.

"I don't care about the cameras," the United manager said.

"What confrontation? It was not a confrontation. Do you think it was a confrontation?

"What happened the other day, happens many days. Conversations with players, I have many, many times. It was not the case but loud critiques, loud instruction happens every day. Coaching is about that."

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Mourinho should not have to police Man Utd's dressing room

Jose Mourinho should be able to rely on his own senior players to sort out problems in Manchester United's dressing room, according to Danny Higginbotham.

Mourinho and Paul Pogba had a frosty exchange, which appeared to be about the midfielder's Instagram post, on Wednesday as he returned to training after being stripped of the Manchester United vice-captaincy.

The United manager denied reports of a bust-up between the pair but the footage from their training session seemed to suggest otherwise.

Higginbotham, who came through the academy system at Old Trafford, says Mourinho should be able to rely on his senior players to sort out any dressing room disagreements themselves rather than having "complete control" himself.

"A manager like Sir Alex Ferguson had the ultimate respect of everyone but he also had players in the dressing room who would be the manager on the pitch, the dressing room and the training ground," he told Sky Sports News.

"You can speak about all the different leaders over the years, we know them from all the different clubs. In the last six or seven years you could name four or five players from each club.

"Football is changing now, it's more difficult for managers, they have to man a lot more things now whereas before the players would take care of it."

Higginbotham believes football management is as hard as it has ever been because players themselves are less likely to confront their own team-mates.

"I think now the manager's job has become far harder than it has ever been," he added.

"The type of player that can control the dressing room, making sure everything is right and everyone is taking responsibility if someone does something wrong, those days are slowly but surely coming to an end.

"That means that players will do certain things and no one will say anything to them, not because of fear, but because of the type of characters that are in there."

Credit: Skysports.com

How do you fix the Jose Mourinho-Paul Pogba issue?

Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba's strained relationship was laid bare in front of Sky Sports News cameras on Wednesday - but is the problem fixable?

It is not the first player-manager spat at Manchester United, nor any club for that matter, and it is unlikely to be the last - but previous situations have seen big stars leave Old Trafford.

Widespread reports claim Pogba does want out for a second time but, with that not possible until at least January 1, the France international and his Portuguese boss must continue to work together.

So how can they do that? Can the relationship be repaired for good? Sky Sports News spoke to former player Mido, former Everton and Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness, and crisis management expert Anthony Burr of Burr Media, to see if things can be patched up...

'Ed Woodward needs to bring in help'

Mido: "Ed Woodward should go to Mino Raiola - he is the only one who can solve this situation. He will always do his best for his players; he always has. In this case, I think Mino would want to solve the situation. He has a very good relationship with Mourinho and with Manchester United. He has got many players into Manchester United in the last couple of years. I think Mino Raiola is the key to solving the Mourinho-Pogba issue."

Wyness: "Part of the problem is that two major characters in Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill left the club and their personality and charisma has not been replaced in terms of the senior management. So I think Ed has got to consider bringing in somebody experienced with a strong personality to assist him on the football side. Also, they are going to have to sell Pogba as soon as possible. You can get a deal done now that could be actioned on January 1 and I would do the deal as soon as possible."

Burr: "Ed has to take charge of the situation and quickly because it is spiralling out of control. He has a good relationship with Mourinho and is desperate for him to succeed, but that is appearing to cloud his judgement. He needs to get Mourinho and Pogba in a room together in private, and resolve their differences. If he doesn't broker that meeting and intercede then United's season could unravel."
'United lack a strong club captain'

Mido: "It is not easy. The captain always has a role to play if things have not come out in the media but now it is all over the place so the captain cannot do anything about it. It is up to the board and the club."

Wyness: "It depends on the relationship between the manager and the captain. I would say he should be a factor. But that is a bit of an old-fashioned, romantic concept; that the captain really has that role any more in a club of this scale."

Burr: "Due to his ongoing knee problem, Valencia has featured very little in United's season. Furthermore, he only took over the armband in the summer and is not a natural or vociferous leader of men in the mould of a John Terry, or Steven Gerrard, or Luka Modric. I think if there was a character like that at United now then they would certainly play a part in this dispute."

'Punishing Mourinho would inflame things'

Mido: "Mourinho is fed up, he knows what Pogba is trying to do, and he is trying to protect himself. He has been in these situations before. Maybe Mourinho did it on purpose. The last thing you want your players to do, especially with big personalities in the dressing room, is to go and criticise your tactics and the way the team is playing when things aren't going well for you. That is what Pogba did and it was not a clever thing to do."

Wyness: "Mourinho should not be reprimanded. The video is just part of the information that informs you, as the chief executive, as to whether it has broken down completely. But there is no point in picking small issues and reprimanding managers over things like that."

Burr: "If the club reprimanded him then it would only exacerbate the situation. My course of action would be to let it pass. Similar to Pogba's ill-timed Instagram post, leave it be, it's done, move on. The club need to deal with what's happening now between their two central characters. That is the main priority."

'Mourinho needs to find a mentor'

Mido: "Jose has to look back at the mistakes he has made in the past. He is a great manager but now this generation of players is different. You cannot deal with them with the old, classic school of man-to-man management. Now you have to get closer to the players, and watch what you are saying in the media about them because their reaction will never be the same as the older generation."

Wyness: "Jose needs to find a mentor. Sir Alex Ferguson certainly would have been a superb sounding board for him. He needs to find somebody he can trust as a mentor and to speak to them."

Burr: "It's becoming a recurring theme now with Mourinho. We have seen a similar pattern throughout his recent career in which he tends to lose the dressing room, followed by him leaving the club. If I was his adviser, I would say to him to keep situations like this in-house. Players, staff, and the club as a whole, appreciate that type of man management. History shows us that playing disputes out in the public domain only inflames the situation and consequently drags the circus out even longer. This current dispute is a clear example of that."

'Pogba just needs to feel loved'

Mido: "We all saw what Pogba was doing in the dressing room with France before and after the games - that tells you he is a real leader and a real team player. But players like Pogba will never play at their best if they don't feel loved, and he does not feel loved by Mourinho. He does not feel Mourinho is on his side. If Pogba does go somewhere else, where he feels more loved, you will see a different player."

Wyness: "Pogba needs to train consistently like a professional. He has also got to consider the influence his agent has over him and consider whether he is being used a bit by his agent. Raiola is almost setting the agenda and creating the conflict. We all know Raiola is going to make another fortune out of a move to Barcelona or Juventus, or wherever he ends up going."

Burr: "In my experience dealing with high-level sportsmen, you should never try and change their mentality too much. This is what has made them successful. Pogba just needs a manager who believes in him and is a bit more forgiving, even regarding senseless social media posts. All players are guilty of making these errors from time to time."

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Shaw: We need to pick ourselves up

Luke Shaw has declared he and the Manchester United squad are raring to go as the Reds return to Premier League action against West Ham United on Saturday afternoon.

Jose Mourinho's men have an impressive record against the hosts going into this weekend's fixture and are unbeaten in two visits so far to the Hammers' new home, the London Stadium.

After being pegged back by Wolverhampton Wanderers last week, Shaw is eager to see a response in front of what will no doubt be another strong and vociferous travelling support.

“I feel like the team has been playing some good football. I think it was disappointing against Wolves,” the United defender told MUTV, before the midweek Carabao Cup tie against Derby County.

“I don’t think we were ourselves. We should be winning games like that, especially at home in front of our home fans. We were all really disappointed and we just need to pick ourselves back up again and keep going.

“I think we had a few chances and, if you don’t take them, you get punished. Luckily, we didn’t lose, we still picked up a point, but that’s still not good enough.

”We were very disappointed as a team but we’ve moved on from that now and we have got to focus on our games to come.“

t has been a fine start to the campaign for Shaw, who was rested for the midweek tie with Derby. The defender scored his first senior goal against Leicester City and has gone on to miss only one league game, after suffering a concussion on international duty with England.

These performances led to the 23-year-old picking up August's Player of the Month and Goal of the Month awards and he is peak condition as the season continues to progress.

“I feel really good,” he said. “I feel strong, I feel fit and I feel like I am enjoying my football again, which is the most important thing for me – to be back out on the pitch and enjoying it.”

Only two absentees for West Ham trip

Jose Mourinho has virtually a full squad to select from as he seeks a fourth consecutive away win for Manchester United in all competitions.

The Reds head to the London Stadium for a Saturday lunch-time meeting with West Ham United on the back of successive victories on the road against Burnley and Watford in the Premier League, and Young Boys in the Champions League, albeit ones that were followed by back-to-back home draws with Wolves and Derby - the latter resulting in a penalties defeat in the Carabao Cup.

Now, with 24 fit players to choose from, Mourinho has to select a side to take on the improving Hammers, who followed up a draw to stop Chelsea's 100 per cent start to the season last weekend with a midweek 8-0 thrashing of League Two side Macclesfield Town in the cup.

Speaking to MUTV on Friday, before his pre-match press conference, Mourinho confirmed: “Only Marcos Rojo is still out. And obviously Romero now with a one-match suspension.

”Apart from that, in a 26-player squad, everybody is available.“

Romero earned his brief ban by being sent off against Derby on Tuesday night, for handling the ball outside his area. Fellow goalkeeper Lee Grant came on as a substitute for the sacrificed Juan Mata and is likely to take the suspended Sergio's place on a Premier League bench as cover for David De Gea.

Rojo has still not played for United's first team this season, with a recent 55-minute guest appearance for the Under-23s at Old Trafford being his only action since being injured during the World Cup finals in Russia.

Speaking in his press conference, the manager confirmed the involvement of at least one player – Paul Pogba.

“Nobody trained better than Paul on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – nobody trained better than him,” he said. “The team needs good players; he is a good player. The team needs players with personality to play – he has and he plays tomorrow.”

Fred: My first goal felt amazing'

Manchester United’s summer recruit, Fred, has explained the reason behind his goal celebration last weekend against Wolves.

The Brazilian’s strike was his first for the club since moving from Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer and he marked the occasion by putting the ball up his shirt.

While Fred and the rest of his team-mates were disappointed that United did not take all three points from the game, the midfielder admits it was a special moment to see his right-footed shot find the net at Old Trafford.

“I was really happy,” Fred told MUTV ahead of Saturday’s clash against West Ham.

“I even had the chance to dedicate it to my son that will be born soon. This goal was really important to me and I hope is the first of many.

“I’m still adapting to many things and in the previous games I wasn’t playing as well as I was playing before I joined the club. Now I feel much better and to be able to score my first goal was really amazing.”

Fred could add to his account when the Reds travel to the London Stadium this weekend, where the 25-year-old hopes United can bounce back from the midweek defeat to Derby County.

“Nobody wants to lose,” he said. “We want to win always and when we lose it is very sad, but we cannot let this beat us down. We need to put our heads up, train harder so we do not let this happen again.

“It’s a lesson to learn. We need to learn and to keep this feeling in our minds so we can be stronger for the next game.

“We are ready (for West Ham). Every game in the Premier League is a fight, is a hard game and against West Ham it won’t be different. It’s a great team that have new players for this season.

“They are strong but we are Manchester United and we won’t let our heads go down against any team. We need to be strong mentally and tactically.

Fred is also looking forward to coming up against his his former team-mate Felipe Anderson, who joined West Ham in the summer from Lazio.

“He is a guy that has been playing with me since 2009 in the Brazilian squad,“ said the Reds star. ”We played in the Copa America together, and the Olympic Games. He is a guy that I admire a lot, he is a dear friend of mine.

“When he signed with West Ham and I signed with Man United we spoke about playing against each other. I wish all the best for him in this team, I hope he is also adapting really well. But in the game against us, (I hope) the victory will be ours, not theirs.“

Paul Pogba v Jose Mourinho: Their relationship at Manchester United in quotes

As Paul Pogba's relationship with Jose Mourinho appears to have taken another bad turn, we take a look at what the pair have said about each other in the past.

Pogba and Mourinho had a tense exchange at the start of Manchester United's training session on Wednesday morning, just one day after the World Cup winner was stripped of the club's vice-captaincy role by his manager.

And as the relationship between the pair appears to be worsening, with neither afraid to voice their opinions, we've taken a closer look at what the two have had to say about each other since Pogba arrived at Old Trafford in August 2016.

Pogba on Mourinho

"I am delighted to re-join United," Pogba said after joining Manchester United for £89.3m in August 2016.

"It has always been a club with a special place in my heart and I am really looking forward to working with Jose Mourinho. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Juventus and have some fantastic memories of a great club with players that I count as friends."

Pogba was pleased with his relationship with Mourinho after his first full season at Old Trafford.

"He is the Special One because he wins. Sometimes he does some extreme things. Against Chelsea, he changed our tactical formation just before the game.

"We had never trained it before but it worked out well. That was special. He won three trophies in his first year, that's special as well. He deserves his name."

At the end of last season ahead of the World Cup which Pogba would go on to win with France, he admitted he wasn't "best friends" with Mourinho amid reports the 25-year-old was looking to move abroad.

"A coach and a player don't have to be best friends, we don't have to go to restaurants together. I had a few little problems too... football is sometimes all about the mental side. He put me on the bench and I gave my response on the pitch. I always give everything I've got.

"He made me progress in leadership. I had the armband with Mourinho, it was the first time in a club, it's important for me, it makes me grow to be also a leader in the France team."

After the World Cup, Pogba revealed he only had a professional working relationship with Mourinho.

"We have a pure coach-player relationship, that's right. One thing I can assure you: I will always give 100 per cent, no matter which coach I always give everything, I cannot say more."

Following Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Wolves on Saturday, Pogba hinted criticism towards Mourinho for his tactical decisions before reports surfaced of a falling out between the 25-year-old and his boss.

"We should just attack and press, like we did against Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal last season. When we play like this, it's easier for us. I can't tell you because I'm a player. It's not me.

"I am not the manager, I cannot, like, say that, but obviously we should show more options of playing. But I cannot say that, because I'm a player. That's my way of thinking - we should move better. We should move more, yeah."

Mourinho on Pogba

Mourinho had plenty of praise for Pogba when he returned to Old Trafford in 2016.

"Paul is one of the best players in the world and will be a key part of the United team I want to build here for the future.

"He is quick, strong, scores goals and reads the game better than many players much older than he is. At 23, he has the chance to make that position his own here over many years. He is young and will continue to improve; he has the chance to be at the heart of this club for the next decade and beyond."

During Manchester United's pre-season tour of USA last year, Mourinho said Pogba's value to Manchester United puts him on the same level as Lionel Messi and Neymar.

"(Lionel) Messi and Neymar, there is only one; there is not two. (Luis) Suarez, (Andres) Iniesta, (Gerard) Pique, (Cristiano) Ronaldo, (Gareth) Bale, (Luka) Modric, Toni Kroos; there is only one so they can only play for one club, not for two clubs.

"We can't have them, they belong to the clubs. But I have to say that Paul Pogba showed the level... he showed he belongs to that level. He is a young guy and made in the club academy and has the conditions to be captain in the future. Against Leicester we felt that it could be an extra motivation for him and that was it, there was no special decision."

In August, Mourinho denied ever having a bust-up with Paul Pogba, insisting he had never been so happy with the player.

"I didn't ask him, I'm not going to ask him. "I want him to work the way he's doing, for me that's the only thing that matters.

"I have to say in his defence, write what you want about him, about me, but please don't say lies.

"Please don't put him in a situation where people can think he's not a polite, educated guy, which he is.

"He never had a fight with me, we never had a hard change of words, everything is respected. I have no problems at all."

Mourinho stripped Pogba of his vice-captain role before Manchester United lost to Derby in the Carabao Cup third round, but still insisted he had no issue with him.

"The only truth [to the reports] is that I made the decision for Paul not to be the second captain anymore. But no fallout, no problems at all. The same person that decided Paul is not the second captain anymore is the same person that decided Paul was the second captain - myself.

"I'm the manager I can make these decisions, no fall out at all, no problems at all. Just a decision I do not have to explain."

Credit: Skysports.com

Jose Mourinho v Paul Pogba: The situation at Manchester United explained

Jose Mourinho may insist there are "no problems" between himself and Paul Pogba but video footage from Manchester United training on Wednesday morning appeared to paint a different picture.

The strained relationship between the pair was visible for all to see as Pogba received a frosty greeting from his manager, before having an apparently exasperated discussion with Mourinho.

The club's record signing has been informed he will never captain United again while Mourinho is in charge, after saying the team needed to attack more following Saturday's 1-1 draw with Wolves.

With plenty of questions now being raised about Pogba's future at Old Trafford, Sky Sports News reporter James Cooper has attempted to provide some insight into how this situation has come about and what it means for both men's future at the club.

When did the tension between Mourinho and Pogba begin?

The problems stem from the performances of Pogba towards the end of last season.

He was a substitute in the two games against Sevilla when United exited the Champions League - clearly the manager was not happy about the performances he was getting out of a player he paid a world-record transfer fee for.

Then he goes to the World Cup, plays brilliantly and Mourinho talks about that as being the real Paul Pogba.

Tensions have been growing since then. What is different now is the games are over in many ways and this one is out in the open.

What is the root of the disagreements between the pair?

Mourinho broke the world transfer record to bring Pogba to Manchester United - one of four marquee signings in his first transfer window.

He brought a player in who had done brilliantly at Juventus and has played brilliantly for his country but he has not done it for Manchester United on a consistent basis. Most Manchester United fans would agree with that. That is where the frustration lies.

The other thing to say about the situation is the fragile nature of things at Manchester United is there for all to see.

There were problems behind the scenes in the games against Brighton and Tottenham.

Things seemed to be improving after the loss to Spurs. United were building momentum with three consecutive wins. I saw Pogba last week and he seemed relaxed and happy.

Now, suddenly, we are in a situation where Pogba will not be captain at United while Mourinho is there. Things have changed quickly and that relationship has clearly broken down.

Who holds the balance of power - United's manager or the club's most marketable player?

Ed Woodward knows he has to back his manager. The club want success and they have identified Mourinho as the person to do that.

He has already won three trophies, though last season was less of a success and he said going into this season it was going to be difficult.

On the other side of things, they have spent an awful lot of money to bring Pogba back to the club after he left under a cloud.

But the simple answer is Mourinho has to be the one that holds the power.

I think at the moment most United fans would be in Mourinho's corner because they have not seen the best of Pogba - there has been a lot of posturing, a lot of haircuts but they have not seen the leader and the world-class player they were expecting.

How much of a concern will Mourinho's deteriorating relationship with Pogba be for Ed Woodward?

It is clearly a problem. Pogba is a person United thought they could build a team around and that has not really happened.

He did not play against Derby County on Tuesday night and it raises question marks as to whether he will play in the coming weeks, with a series of tough games coming up, starting against West Ham on Saturday.

There is a wider problem here as well. We saw on Saturday Mourinho laid into his players, saying they lacked the intensity and aggression that was required. He mentioned it again in his programme notes last night, saying lessons had not been learned by some of the players.

Then incredibly, after the defeat in the shootout, he talked about how United "were going to be in trouble" when Eric Bailly and Phil Jones had to take penalties.

It makes you wonder about his motives. Mourinho knows the power of his words and it might just show that it is not just a difference of opinion between him and Pogba.

There might be something more sinister here. Perhaps Mourinho is not looking for a way out of Manchester United but certainly an excuse to maybe make his point.

That certainly seems to be what he is doing at the moment, making his point, and it may be that Pogba has provided him with an excuse to make that point.

So, what point is Mourinho trying to make?

There is clearly a lot of unhappiness on his part that he was not given the money he wanted to spend this summer.

Mourinho wanted a centre-half but the problem from the board's perspective is they did not think Harry Maguire was worth the fee that Leicester City were talking about.

They would have broken the record for Raphael Varane from Real Madrid if they had encouragement from Madrid but that did not happen.

So I think there is that frustration there from Mourinho that he has not been backed.

But equally, I think Ed Woodward probably looked at Mourinho and said, 'Look, you brought in (Victor) Lindelof and (Eric) Bailly - you have got to get rid of those players and raise some money or make do with what you've got.'

But, in the back of his mind, when Mourinho came to Manchester, he saw it as a battle with Pep Guardiola.

At the moment, you have to say for the first time in his career he is almost in a no-win situation. He has not got either the resources, the players or the strategy to win.

Is there a danger this could cause a split in the United dressing room?

Clearly it is a difficult situation when you consider Pogba is such a big presence in the Manchester United dressing room, a player they spent an awful of money on and, like it or loathe it, he is seen as a leader.

I do not think there will be a dressing room split but I think the wider issue from this is that public fall-outs and public criticisms of players are happening all too frequently.

Mourinho said Manchester United faced a difficult season. It is certainly playing out that way. I think his difficulties at the moment are perhaps, not only of his own making, but also within his own dressing room.

I know a lot of people are saying, the simple solution would be for Manchester United to sell Pogba. I think they could get their money back and perhaps a bit more but the issue is that we are in September right now and they cannot sell him until January. Even then, they may not be able to move him because he has played Champions League football.

Also they may not be able to get a similar replacement, so we are at a kind of impasse at the moment.

A further question is whether the board - having sanctioned that amount of money from the Glazer family - would get rid of Pogba. What sort of message that would send out?

But it does feel like this is a pantomime or a circus that is gathering momentum.

What role is Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, playing in this?

It is not a helpful role. He has been quiet over the last couple of weeks but the last time he put his head above the parapet he had a go at Paul Scholes, saying he would not recognise a leader, even if Winston Churchill was in front of him.

He knows he has got an asset in Pogba, he knows Manchester United paid an awful lot of money for him and he knows there are other clubs in Europe that would be interested in taking Pogba. He is in a position of strength.

What is probably frustrating for him is the window is not open until January and he has a player who is clearly unhappy and who has a rather strained relationship with the manager who brought him to the club.

Where is all this leading?

Clearly, you have got two of the biggest characters at Manchester United on either side of the dressing room - Mourinho in the red corner, if you like, and Pogba in the blue corner. That is not a healthy situation.

There are loads of issues here but one thing for certain is that this is going to take a long time to sort out and it will play out very publicly. These have been the opening shots. Something clearly has to give.

But any football person will tell you the manager is the key person at a football club and at the moment the manager is Mourinho.

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Is the Jose Mourinho era now over?

Jose Mourinho was ahead of his time but as he struggles to get results on the pitch and to maintain control off it, has the game moved on? He is a victim of his success, writes Adam Bate.

Twice in one week the Manchester United supporters have trudged away from Old Trafford wondering what has become of their team. Having been outplayed by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, any hope of a response in the Carabao Cup proved forlorn. They were beaten on penalties by Championship side Derby County.

The significance of the identities of the two opposing managers in those matches will not have been lost on Mourinho. These were his first two competitive games up against coaches who had played under him. Nuno Espirito Santo was part of the Porto squad that won the Champions League in 2004. Frank Lampard was a colossus for him at Chelsea.

Lampard himself joked that facing Mourinho in the dug-out will have made both of them feel old but there is more to it than that. Like Nuno, Lampard learned from his old boss. He absorbed his methods, embraced them and refined them. What once made Mourinho unique - special - has become common practice. He is a victim of his own success.

How could he not be? His words have left an impression, adding phrases to the lexicon. It is hardly surprising that his coaching has made an impact too. "His attention to detail was incredible and he changed the way I thought about football," former Chelsea captain John Terry explained when appearing on Monday Night Football last year.

Terry remembers being astonished by the professionalism of Mourinho's very first session as Chelsea manager. The pitch was divided into four grids. Each drill was timed with drinks there waiting for after each phase was complete. "At the end of it, the lads thought, wow that was a session," said Terry. "Mentally and psychologically, he had us from day one."

The description of this session does not seem particularly remarkable now. But in a way, that's the point. Just as Arsene Wenger triumphed so totally in changing the diet of Premier League players, Mourinho's level of organisation is now the norm. If he were to turn up at Wolves or Derby tomorrow, these drills would feel far less alien to the players.

Of course, Mourinho recognised years ago that this was no longer a unique selling point. It is why he is so generous with aspiring coaches. "Any coach can come into my office, plug a memory stick into my computer and download my training schedules and ideas," he said. "Honestly, why not? They can download my information but they can't download my DNA."

This raises the second key point about how things have changed for Mourinho, a manager whose personality was as integral to his success as his training methods. The bond that he was able to forge with players, particularly in the early phase of his career, was extraordinary.

At Chelsea, it was not just Terry and Lampard but Petr Cech and Didier Drogba. The four men set the tone even in Mourinho's second spell at Stamford Bridge. Indeed, things only unravelled for him there after the latter two departed the dressing room in the summer of 2015.

At Inter, his band of battle-hardened veterans were inspired to new heights in winning the Champions League in 2010. The youngest player to get on the pitch for Mourinho in that final was 25 years old. It did not stop Marco Materazzi crying like a baby when Mourinho left.

But while the motivational methods haven't changed, the players have

Another tale from Terry illustrates this clearly. Mourinho had once set out to "humiliate" him during a pre-season training session in the manager's first spell at Chelsea. Terry had just captained the club to the Premier League title but this did not stop Mourinho from dressing down the defender and even threatening to buy someone else to replace him.

While Terry could not understand why he found himself on the receiving end, his reaction was telling. His response was to work even harder and do even more to impress. "I would leave that pitch in a coffin for him and every player felt the same," he has since claimed.

Could Mourinho engineer that same response from a player now? His troubled relationship with Paul Pogba would suggest not. But then, even Sir Alex Ferguson had his problems in dealing with the Frenchman and his notorious agent Mino Raiola. It is getting more difficult, something acknowledged by the man himself in an interview with France Football.

"I have had to adapt to a new world and what young players are like now," admitted Mourinho. "I have had to understand the difference between working with a boy like Frank Lampard who, at the age of 23, was already a man - who thought football, work, professionalism - and the new boys today, who at the age of 23 are kids."

His assessment of the changing nature of dealing with young players feels particularly prophetic in light of the furore over Pogba's use of social media. "Today I call them boys not men because I think that they are brats and that everything that surrounds them does not help them in their life or in my work," he added.

"I had to adjust to all of that. Ten years ago, no player had a mobile phone in the dressing room. That is no longer the case. But you have to go with it, because if you fight that you are bringing about conflict and you risk putting yourself in the stone-age."

Reinvention is the challenge for any ageing manager seeking to extend their stay at the top. But it surely presents the greatest problem for those who not only have to work with the most high-profile players but whose success has been built on an abrasive style.

There is no denying that the game has moved on. The irony for Mourinho is not just that it is his work that has been a catalyst for that progress. It is that the men who respond best to him are now the managers he has helped to win against him, rather than the players who can help him win.

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Mourinho knew what he was doing in Paul Pogba spat

Jose Mourinho knew exactly what he was doing when having a very public spat with Paul Pogba in training, says Danny Murphy.

The Manchester United manager denied reports of a bust-up between the pair, but Wednesday morning's interaction - captured by Sky Sports' cameras - suggested otherwise, with the frosty exchange seemingly in reaction to Pogba's usage of Instagram during the game as United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

Sky Sports News filmed Pogba coming out for training - the morning after Mourinho insisted there was "no fallout, no problem" between himself and the World Cup winner - where the France international was confronted by Mourinho, something Murphy, speaking on The Debate, feels was staged by the Portuguese.

"Mourinho could have pulled him aside before training," Murphy said. "The more I think about it, the more I think Mourinho has done it on purpose. I don't think it is flippant - he is too clever.

"I spoke to people who work with Mourinho, and they eulogise about him and his attention to detail. He is always preparing things and knowing how he is going to deal with the press.

"All of a sudden he has become unaware of the press? People can lipread now. The more we talk about it I am convinced he has done that on purpose.

"I have had a couple of managers that I did not get on with, you just clash. Other players will speak really highly of them. Pogba and Mourinho might just not get on."

Craig Bellamy highlighted how if it came to a battle with only one winner, the player cannot come out on top.

"If it is a straightforward powerplay, there will only be one winner, and should only be one winner, and that is the manager," Bellamy said. "There is no player and, believe it or not, no manager bigger than the club. Nobody is bigger than Manchester United.

"It is something that has to be resolved between the two of them. United have not started great, but I see no reason why Mourinho cannot stay for the full year.

"It looks to me, from the outside that Pogba wants out. It is not working for him at Manchester United and not with this manager. All the little bits he wants out."

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Berbatov 'fed-up' with Jose-Pogba row

Dimitar Berbatov says he is "fed up" of headlines about Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba and has told the pair to sort their differences out in the dressing room.

After Mourinho and Pogba were filmed by Sky Sports News in a frosty exchange on the training ground on Wednesday, ex-Manchester United striker Berbatov admitted he was "surprised" their relationship has deteriorated so far.

Mourinho has removed Pogba from the United vice-captaincy and Berbatov, who scored 57 goals in four years at United, says Pogba must have provoked him into making such a decision.

The Bulgarian told Betfair: "If you are a captain or vice-captain, you're more often than not speaking on behalf of the players, and there is nothing wrong with giving the manager your thoughts.

"But this shouldn't be done in the media - it helps nobody for these arguments to be played out in public.

"I'm really surprised it has got to this stage. This sort of thing really needs to be kept in-house. You're all grown-ups, figure it out in the dressing room.

"For Mourinho to have gone as far as removing the vice captaincy, Pogba must have provoked him - whether it was the comments after the Wolves game or something else. But these arguments affect everybody else and start having an impact on the pitch.

"As someone who wants Manchester United to do well, I'm fed up of waking up and seeing these headlines. Football should be about what happens on the pitch. It's a stupid situation."

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Mourinho risks losing '40 per cent' of Man Utd's dressing room in row with Paul Pogba

Jose Mourinho could lose "40 per cent" of Manchester United's dressing room if his problems with Paul Pogba continue, Mido has told Sky Sports News.

Pogba was left out of the United squad on Tuesday night as they crashed out of the Carabao Cup in the third round on penalties against Derby, and Mourinho confirmed he had relieved Pogba of his vice-captaincy duties ahead of the game.

The decision came just two days after Pogba urged United to adopt a more attacking approach in the wake of their 1-1 draw with Wolves.

Despite being sympathetic with the Portuguese manager, Mido says Mourinho could isolate almost half the United dressing room if he does not resolve the situation with the France midfielder soon.

"If you saw Mourinho's first comments on Pogba after the World Cup you can understand a little bit the type of relationship they have," Mido told Sky Sports News.

"The first thing he said was 'the reason Pogba did really well for the national team was because it was a short time so it's easy to focus, but now he needs to do that in a full season'.

"As a player you would expect your manager to be more supportive if you win a major tournament. The World Cup is the biggest thing you could ever win. You can smell from last season that the relationship has not been great.

"But Mourinho has played him in every game, he bought him in the first place for massive money and he made him vice-captain.

"So Mourinho tried to get everything right with Pogba because he knows if he loses him, he loses 40 per cent of the dressing room. Pogba has a big effect on the younger players, he's close to Lingard and all the young English players.

"They see him as an idol even if he is not much older than them. By losing him he knows he will lose 40 per cent of the dressing room."

The Egyptian says Mourinho has made the mistake of using old management techniques on a new generation of player who will not give him the reaction he is looking for.

He continued: "I feel sorry for Mourinho. I know he has made mistakes and he didn't deal with the media in the best way especially in tough times.

"The way the Chelsea players played in his last seven or eight games there, I'm sure the players wanted him out because straight away after he left they started to play better. Now I can see the same thing happening.

"A big part of it is his fault because he didn't know how to deal with the dressing room at tough times. Sometimes he is dealing with situations in the old school way but players are not the same anymore.

"Ten years ago if you come out and criticise Zanetti, Maldini or Stam - the next day, the next match they work to prove you wrong. This generation thinks differently, you cannot get the same reaction from them.

"This is the area where Mourinho is struggling, he is still dealing with players the way he did at Porto or Chelsea but hee is getting reactions which he did not expect."

Mido expects Pogba's agent Mino Raiola, who also represents him, to defend the midfielder publicly in the coming days and warned United of the influence the so-called super agent could wield at Old Trafford.

Mido said: "Mino is one of the greatest agents around. He has done great for all of his clients. You are talking about big names, Ibrahimovic, Balotelli, Pogba, Nedved, Maxwell. He's loyal that's why players love him, he stands by them.

"He had his problems with Pep Guardiola and Zlatan and he had a big fight with Barcelona. He doesn't care if he has no more deals with the club anymore.

"He had big problems with Sir Alex Ferguson as well. If things carry on the same way I'm sure he will come out soon and criticise Mourinho. He won't think twice.

"It's not good for the game but by signing his players you know you are taking that risk. There is history there. United signed Pogba, Zlatan, Mkhitaryan and Lukaku - four of his players.

"When you have an agent who has four or five players in your team, he is controlling the club really, controlling the dressing room."

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Recognition for Reds' away support

Manchester United are in good form on the road and have won the last three away games in all competitions, backed by our fabulous travelling vocal support on each occasion.

As the Reds gear up for another game away from Old Trafford this weekend against West Ham United, it represents a chance to get back on track after consecutive draws at home, including the subsequent Carabao Cup exit to Derby County on penalties on Tuesday.

United defenders Diogo Dalot and Victor Lindelof have been impressed by the incredible support the side always receives and both acknowledge the positive impact it has on the players. Another noisy away end is expected at the London Stadium as Jose Mourinho's men look to kickstart the weekend with three points.

Dalot made his senior home debut for the club against Derby and crossed for Marouane Fellaini to head the injury-time equaliser. “We need that support to get even more motivation and, as long as they are on our side, it will be perfect for us,” Dalot told MUTV.

“We are just focused on what we need to do inside the pitch and they help us outside of it.

“The fans are unbelievable to us, especially in away games, so I think we are all happy with it.“

Lindelof, who was rested for the Rams tie, has played in the last three away games and knows just what an impact United’s away following can have.

“They are amazing,“ he said. ”They always support us and we want to make them happy, knowing we’re trying to get a win for them and for ourselves as well.

“They help us a lot and give us the extra strength we need.”

Despite moving to United from abroad, the defensive duo were not surprised by the Reds' incredible fanbase, which is recognised across the globe.

“When I was a kid at home, I could see the United fans were always like this so it’s not new for me,” said Dalot, “But it is different to live it like a player.

“For me, it was very good to see the support they gave us in Switzerland [during the 3-0 success against Young Boys in the opening game].“

Lindelof was also aware of the reputation of the Reds fans for their unstinting backing when he was plying his trade in Sweden and Portugal.

“I’d seen a lot of games before I came here,” said Lindelof. “And I’ve always seen the club had great supporters.

“It’s always nice to come here to experience it for yourself and they really are great.”

United support European Week of Sport

Manchester United are supporting the European Week Of Sport (EWS), which is taking place this week (24-30 September) across the continent.

The initiative is led by the European Commission to promote sport and physical activity across the continent.

Sport and physical activity can contribute to wellbeing, yet participation rates are currently stagnating and even declining in some countries.

The EWS is promoting sport and physical activity for everyone, regardless of their age, background or fitness level. With a focus on grassroots initiatives, it is inspiring Europeans to #BeActive on a regular basis and find opportunities in their everyday lives to exercise more, not just during the EWS but all year round.

As a member state of the European Clubs Association (ECA), Manchester United back the EWS. The Reds were one of the 16 founding members of the ECA, which now represents the interests of 230 football clubs from 54 different countries.

To find out more about the EWS, visit www.ec.europa.eu/sport/week.

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Pogba can never be bigger than United

Jose Mourinho was right to strip Paul Pogba of the Manchester United vice-captaincy as no player is bigger than a football club, Liam Rosenior told The Debate.

Pogba watched from the stands on Tuesday night as United crashed out of the Carabao Cup in the third round on penalties at the hands of Derby.

In a prickly post-match interview, United boss Mourinho confirmed he had relieved Pogba of his vice-captaincy duties ahead of the game.

The decision came just two days after Pogba urged United to adopt a more attacking approach in the wake of their 1-1 draw with Wolves.

Rosenior believes Mourinho had no option but to take action against Pogba to reaffirm that control at the club lies with him and not the players.

"Read between the lines. Pogba will never be captain of Manchester United again," Rosenior told The Debate.

"I understand Mourinho's decision. You have to make these decisions. A player can never be bigger than the manager or a football club.

"When a player is speaking so candidly about the club needing to attack, play in a certain way and questioning the manager's approach, that creates problems between not only those two but also creates an atmosphere within the dressing room.

"That has to be dealt with because other players will stick their head above the parapet and start disagreeing with the manager as well.

"A manager would lose their power and the last thing a manager can do is lose their power and control of a dressing room."

Pogba's future at Manchester United has been under the spotlight in recent months, with talk of a move to Barcelona or a return to Juventus.

The latest dip in relations between Pogba and Mourinho will not have helped the situation and, according to Rosenior, has left executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward with a decision to make.

"Pogba seems to be a recurring theme at the moment," he added. "As a manager or a coach, is he doing enough? He was outstanding at the World Cup and that must be a bigger frustration for Mourinho.

"I don't see this as a shock. He was linked with Barcelona straight after the World Cup and he's been linked this week with Juventus. I think Mino Raiola is influencing Pogba to get what he wants out of this.

"Ed Woodward is going to have to show his cards. Is he going to back the player or the manager?

"One player can never be bigger than the manager of a football club. He was questioning the manager's way of working and it created an atmosphere in the dressing room that might have led to Mourinho losing his power.

"You need synergy at a football club, on and off the pitch. This is another example that things are not right at Manchester United."

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Redknapp: Paul Pogba-Jose Mourinho rift is now huge

Jamie Redknapp insists there is now a "huge rift" between Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba, despite the Manchester United manager denying a bust-up between the pair.

Mourinho confirmed on Tuesday night he had stripped the France international of the vice-captaincy, but told Sky Sports there was "no fall out, no problems at all" and that he did not need to explain his decision.

The call comes just days after Pogba - who was rested for United's Carabao Cup exit to Derby on Tuesday evening - said the team should "attack, attack, attack" when playing at home.

Sky Sports expert Redknapp does not believe Mourinho when he says has not fallen out with the club's record signing.

"There's been an almighty fall out," he insisted.

"That's a kick in the teeth if you tell someone they are the vice-captain and then you take it off him. You don't need me to say it.

"There's a huge rift between the two of them. I felt they might be able to recover it when Mourinho made him captain for a couple of games.

"I think it was probably the right decision to rest him today, but going forward I don't see how you patch that up."

Pogba insisted United had made a mistake in failing to attack Wolves in the 1-1 Premier League draw on Saturday and was not involved in the 8-7 penalty shootout loss to Derby on Tuesday.

Redknapp now expects Mourinho to leave the club before the World Cup-winning midfielder does.

"You can sack Jose Mourinho, but you can't sack Paul Pogba. What are you going to do with him?" he added.

"I've been in dressing rooms where the manager has lost the players and all you get is cliques. Players will get into their corners.

"That's how I see this Manchester United dressing room. I can visualise it now. There's so many unhappy people.

"Don't get me wrong, I don't think it was the brightest thing Paul Pogba ever said at the weekend, but what I will say is what this club does is attack.

"That has always been the blueprint here, to go for teams, and I don't think Jose Mourinho does that. That's not being disrespectful, it's a fact.

"He's one of the greatest managers ever, look at what he's won, but is he the right fit for Man Utd and their style of play? I don't think he is.

"The modern-day manager has got to be friends with these guys. You can't fall out with them."

Harry Wilson and Jack Marriott scored for Derby in a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening before Phil Jones missed the 16th penalty in a dramatic shootout to see Mourinho's side exit the Carabao Cup.

Redknapp blamed the players for the loss, but insisted the manager was also at fault.

He added: "You had £335m of talent out there. If you can't, with no disrespect, beat Derby with that amount of talent then it's not good enough.

"Of course Mourinho is to blame. This is his team. He is falling out with players.

"He didn't bring on Alexis Sanchez today and it always feels like there is a war with him with his players.

"This is his team. He's got to stop falling out with people. That's not good management any more."

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Mourinho confirms Paul Pogba no longer Man Utd vice-captain

Jose Mourinho has confirmed Paul Pogba is no longer Manchester United's vice-captain, but denied reports of a bust-up between the pair.

Pogba, who has taken the captaincy three times this season in the absence of Antonio Valencia, was critical of United's defensive style following last Saturday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Wolves at Old Trafford.

The World Cup winner, however, suggested his comments had been "twisted" in a Twitter post on Monday.

Reports on Tuesday suggested Mourinho told Pogba he would never captain United again to underline his authority at the club.

Asked after United's Carabao Cup home defeat to Derby on Tuesday if the stories were true, Mourinho said: "No. The only truth [to the reports] is that I made the decision for Paul not to be the second captain anymore.

"But no fallout, no problems at all. The same person that decided Paul is not the second captain anymore is the same person that decided Paul was the second captain - myself.

"I'm the manager I can make these decisions, no fall out at all, no problems at all. Just a decision I do not have to explain."

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Man. United working tirelessly for trophies

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward says everyone at Manchester United is "working tirelessly" to bring silverware to Old Trafford.

Woodward has also promised fans that United's record revenues mean they be will active at the top end of the transfer market in coming years.

United announced record revenues on Tuesday - but also a huge wage bill approaching £300m.

Jose Mourinho's side are seventh in the Premier League after a mixed start to the campaign, and Woodward has been criticised for the club's limited activity during the summer transfer window.

United have now topped the £500m mark in revenues for three straight years and Woodward said: "Everyone at the club is working tirelessly to add to Manchester United's 66 and Jose's 25 trophies.

"We are committed to our philosophy of blending top academy graduates with world-class players, and are proud that, once again, last season we had more academy graduate minutes on the pitch than any other Premier League club.

"Our increased revenue expectation for the year demonstrates our continued strong long-term financial performance, which underpins everything we do and allows us to compete for top talent in an increasingly competitive transfer market."

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