JOSE TIGHTROPE

Manager riles United board with cash digs

JOSE MOURINHO is treading a fine line with the Old Trafford board over his comments about Manchester United’s spending.

The United manager said recently that the £260million he has invested in his team in the last 18 months is ‘not enough’ to compete at the top of the Premier League. Some senior officials at United have interpreted that as an attempt to pressure them into more spending as Mourinho (left) looks to make up ground on runaway leaders Manchester City. One Old Trafford figurehead has commented privately that he believes reports linking United to signings have their origin in people close to the manager. United knew Mourinho would be vocal in the media when they hired him. Indeed, it was one of the reasons the

club steered clear of him when replacing Alex Ferguson. And while United are prepared to let the Portuguese set his own agenda when it comes to relations with match officials, opposition managers and even former United players, they will not appreciate thinly-disguised efforts to force their hand on spending. United are happy with Mourinho’s progress on the field and have sympathy with his claim that he inherited a squad from Van Gaal that had not been sufficiently improved since the Ferguson years. They also believe their manager’s purchases have been well thought out. Chief executive Ed Woodward is preparing to bankroll Mourinho further in the transfer window if required and plans are in place for two marquee signings in the summer. United know they have fallen too far behind City and are prepared to do whatever is necessary to catch up. However, further comments from Mourinho about finances will only lead him closer to direct confrontation with his employers.